METHOD OF TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH A SENSOR POD WITH USER INTERFACE
A method for two-way communication includes providing a vehicle with a sensor pod. The method includes initiating two-way communication between a local user and a remote user via the sensor pod.
1 . A method for two-way communication, comprising:
providing a vehicle with a sensor pod; and
initiating two-way communication between a local user and a remote user via the sensor pod.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the two-way communication between the local user and the remote user comprises the local user activating a call button on the sensor pod.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the two-way communication between the local user and the remote user comprises:
sensing an environment around the vehicle to detect a presence of the local user; and
initiating the two-way communication automatically when the presence of the local user is detected.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein sensing the environment around the vehicle is continuous until the presence of the local user is detected.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein sensing the environment comprises detecting for visual presence of the local user with a camera.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein sensing the environment comprises detecting for audio presence of the local user with a microphone.
7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein initiating the two-way communication further comprises alerting the remote user to initiate a communication session.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying an image on the sensor pod during the two-way communication.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the image is an avatar, video of the remote user, text, or documents provided by the remote user.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing the sensor pod with a side-view mirror, wherein the image is displayed on the side-view mirror.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the sensor pod with a user interface configured to conduct the two-way communication.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the user interface includes a display surface, a microphone, a speaker, and a camera.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the local user sees the remote user or information provided by the remote user on the display surface.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the local user hears the remote user or information provided by the remote user with the speaker.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the remote user sees the local user with the camera and hears audio from the local user provided via the microphone.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the user interface is provided on a rearward facing surface of the sensor pod.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing autonomous operation of the vehicle with the sensor pod.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor pod automatically initiates the two-way communication between the local user and the remote user.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the sensor pod with a side-view mirror and a user interface, both located on a rearward facing surface of the sensor pod, wherein a display surface of the user interface is located on the side-view mirror.