IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,673,558
Granted Patent B1
US 11,673,558 · App. 16/739,991 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Apparatuses, systems and methods for improving operation of autonomous vehicles

Inventors: Aaron Scott Chan (Bloomington, IL); Kenneth J. Sanchez (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
B60W40/08B60W50/12G05D1/0061G05D1/0088G06Q10/02G06Q50/30G06V40/10B60W2040/0836B60W2040/0872
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,673,558
App. No.
16/739,991
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for improving vehicular safety are provided. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may receive and analyze image data depicting an individual located within a vehicle. The electronic device may also access certain data related to a condition of the individual, and may accordingly determine whether the individual is fit to operate the vehicle. If the individual is unfit to operate the vehicle, the electronic device may alter autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Claims (99)

1. A computer-implemented method of improving operation of an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computer processor, user profile data, wherein the user profile data includes physical characteristics of a set of users;

receiving image data from at least one image sensor located within the vehicle in response to detecting an individual sitting in a seat within the autonomous vehicle;

analyzing, by the computer processor, the image data to identify a particular individual located within the vehicle based on a comparison of the image data with the user profile data;

accessing (i) sensor data from a sensor associated with the vehicle, and (ii) a location history of an electronic device associated with the particular individual;

analyzing the sensor data to determine a current state of the particular individual;

in response to analyzing the sensor data, generating an autonomous mode control signal;

altering an autonomous operation mode of the vehicle based on the autonomous mode control signal; and

in response to the determined current state of the particular individual and the location history of the electronic device, automatically performing at least one function based on the user profile data for the particular individual, the performing including initiating at least one of a booking application or a transportation network application installed on the electronic device associated with the particular individual.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein accessing the sensor data from the sensor comprises:

receiving a reading from a breathalyzer device used by the particular individual, the reading indicating a blood alcohol content of the particular individual;

wherein analyzing the sensor data to determine the current state of the particular individual comprises:

determining, based on the blood alcohol content of the particular individual, that the particular individual is intoxicated.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an environment of the vehicle or the particular individual; and

determining information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein determining the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual comprises:

identifying, using a location module of the electronic device, a current location of the electronic device;

and wherein determining the information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual comprises:

identifying, based on the current location of the electronic device, a lodging establishment near the current location of the electronic device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein:

the initiating includes initiating the booking application; and

identifying, based on the current location of the electronic device, the lodging establishment comprises:

determining, via the booking application, that there is availability at the lodging establishment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein determining the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual comprises:

identifying, using a location module of the electronic device, a current location of the electronic device; and

wherein determining the information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual comprises:

identifying, based on the current location of the electronic device, an alternative mode of transportation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein:

the initiating includes initiating the transportation network application; and

identifying, based on the current location of the electronic device, the alternative mode of transportation comprises:

requesting the alternative mode of transportation via the transportation network application.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein determining the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual comprises:

identifying a current time; and

identifying, based on the location history of the electronic device, an establishment in which the electronic device was recently located.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

generating a notification including the information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual, the generating comprising:

identifying (i) a contact of the particular individual stored on the electronic device and (ii) contact information of the contact; and

generating the notification including the contact information of the contact.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein identifying the contact of the particular individual stored on the electronic device comprises:

identifying the contact as at least one of: (i) a recently-contacted contact and (ii) a frequently-contacted contact.

11. A system for improving operation of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a user interface;

a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

a processor configured to interface with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to:

receive user profile data, wherein the user profile data includes physical characteristics of a set of users;

receive image data from at least one image sensor located within the vehicle in response to detecting an individual sitting in a seat within the autonomous vehicle,

analyze the image data to identify a particular individual located within the vehicle based on a comparison of the image data with the user profile data,

access (i) sensor data from a sensor associated with the vehicle, and (ii) a location history of an electronic device associated with the particular individual,

analyze the sensor data to determine a current state of the particular individual,

in response to analyzing the sensor data, generate an autonomous operation mode control signal,

alter an autonomous operation mode of the vehicle based on the autonomous operation mode control signal, and

in response to the determined current state of the particular individual and the location history of the electronic device, automatically perform at least one function based on the user profile data for the particular individual, the at least one function including initiating at least one of a booking application or a transportation network application installed on the electronic device associated with the particular individual.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein to access the sensor data from the sensor, the processor is configured to:

receive a reading from a breathalyzer device used by the particular individual, the reading indicating a blood alcohol content of the particular individual,

and wherein to analyze the sensor data to determine the current state of the particular individual, the processor is configured to:

determine, based on the blood alcohol content of the particular individual, that the particular individual is intoxicated.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine environment of the vehicle or the particular individual, and

determine information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a location module configured to identify a current location of the electronic device;

wherein to determine the information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual, the processor is configured to:

identify, based on the current location of the electronic device, a lodging establishment near the current location of the electronic device.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:

the at least one function includes initiating the booking application; and

to identify, based on the current location of the electronic device, the lodging establishment, the processor is configured to:

determine, via the booking application, that there is availability at the lodging establishment.

16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a location module configured to identify a current location of the electronic device;

wherein to determine the information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual, the processor is configured to:

identify, based on the current location of the electronic device, an alternative mode of transportation.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one function includes initiating the transportation network application; and

to identify, based on the current location of the electronic device, the alternative mode of transportation, the processor is configured to:

request the alternative mode of transportation via the transportation network application.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein to determine the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual, the processor is configured to:

identify a current time, and

identify, based on the location history of the electronic device, an establishment in which the electronic device was recently located.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a notification including the information associated with the environment of the vehicle or the particular individual, wherein, to generate the notification, the processor is configured to:

identify (i) a contact of the particular individual stored on the electronic device and (ii) contact information of the contact, and

generate the notification including the contact information of the contact.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein to identify the contact of the particular individual stored on the electronic device, the processor is configured to:

identify the contact as at least one of: (i) a recently-contacted contact and (ii) a frequently-contacted contact.

21. An electronic device for improving operation of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a user interface;

a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and

a processor configured to interface with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to:

receive user profile data, wherein the user profile data includes physical characteristics of a set of users;

receive image data from at least one image sensor located within the vehicle in response to detecting an individual sitting in a seat within the autonomous vehicle,

analyze the image data to identify a particular individual located within the vehicle based on a comparison of the image data with the user profile data,

access (i) sensor data from a sensor associated with the vehicle, and (ii) a location history of the electronic device,

analyze the sensor data to determine a current state of the particular individual,

in response to analyzing the sensor data, generate an autonomous operation mode control signal,

alter an autonomous operation mode of the vehicle based on the autonomous operation mode control signal, and

in response to the determined current state of the particular individual and the location history of the electronic device, automatically perform at least one function based on the user profile data for the particular individual, the at least one function including initiating at least one of a booking application or a transportation network application installed on the electronic device.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein to access the sensor data from the sensor, the processor is configured to:

receive a reading from a breathalyzer device used by the particular individual, the reading indicating a blood alcohol content of the particular individual, and wherein to analyze the sensor data to determine the current state of the particular individual, the processor is configured to:

determine, based on the blood alcohol content of the particular individual, that the particular individual is intoxicated.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2020
From: CHAN, AARON SCOTT; SANCHEZ, KENNETH J.
To: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 051481/0397 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15875548 · Jan 19, 2018
Provisional Application 62448040 · Jan 19, 2017