IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,397,803
Granted Patent B2
US 12,397,803 · App. 18/191,313 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Determining vehicle height using 5G NR signals

Inventors: Ashok Kumar Iyengar (Encinitas, CA); Krishna Kumar Ramachandran (Cary, NC); Sharath Prasad Krishna Prasad (Flower Mound, TX); Brandon Curney Jones (Puyallup, WA); Sai Srinivas Gorti (Irving, TX); Jeric Saez (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
B60W40/12B60W50/14B60W60/001H04W4/44B60W2050/143B60W2556/45
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,397,803
App. No.
18/191,313
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, a computer system, and a computer program product for vehicle height sensing are provided. A 5G NR transceiver of a computer receives a first 5G NR signal indicative of a vehicle approaching the 5G NR transceiver. The computer is fixed to a stationary object. In response to receiving the first 5G NR signal, the computer generates and transmits a second 5G NR signal. The 5G NR transceiver receives a third 5G NR signal in response to the transmitting of the second 5G NR signal. The computer determines a height of the vehicle by performing triangulation using the received third 5G NR signal. In response to the height exceeding a clearance distance of a stationary roadway structure associated with the computer, the computer generates and transmits a first response signal for altering a travel path of the vehicle.

Claims (31)

1. A method for vehicle height sensing, the method comprising:

receiving, via a 5G NR transceiver of a first computer fixed to a first stationary object, a first 5G NR signal transmitted from a second computer fixed to a second stationary object, wherein the first 5G NR signal indicates that a vehicle is approaching the 5G NR transceiver, and wherein the first computer is disposed at a first distance from the second computer, the first distance being 600 feet or greater;

in response to receiving the first 5G NR signal, generating and transmitting via the first computer a second 5G NR signal;

receiving, via the 5G NR transceiver, a third 5G NR signal in response to the transmitting of the second 5G NR signal, the third 5G NR signal having been sent from a position aligned with the second computer and the first distance;

determining, via the first computer performing triangulation using the received third 5G NR signal, a height of the vehicle; and

in response to the height exceeding a clearance distance of a stationary roadway structure associated with the first computer, generating and transmitting, via the first computer, a first response signal for altering a travel path of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third 5G NR signals operate at a frequency range of 24 GHz to 300 GHz.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the approaching vehicle is an autonomous vehicle comprising a human-machine interface; and

wherein the first response signal comprises a 5G URLLC signal that is receivable via the human-machine interface of the autonomous vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first response signal is configured to cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a braking action.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the 5G URLLC signal operates at a pre-determined frequency and the autonomous vehicle is programmed to search for signals at the pre-determined frequency.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first response signal is configured to cause an audio speaker associated with the approaching vehicle to audibly play a warning sound.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first stationary object is disposed at a distance away from the stationary roadway structure due to an obstruction in a section approaching the stationary roadway structure.

8. A computer system comprising:

a first computer and a second computer, the first computer comprising:

one or more processors,

one or more computer-readable tangible storage media,

a 5G NR transceiver, and

program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage media,

wherein the first computer is fixed to a first stationary object, the second computer is fixed to a second stationary object, the first computer is disposed at a first distance from the second computer, the first distance is 600 feet or greater, and the program instructions are for execution by at least one of the one or more processors to cause the first computer to:

receive via the 5G NR transceiver a first 5G NR signal indicative of a vehicle approaching the 5G NR transceiver, wherein the first 5G NR signal is from the second computer;

in response to receiving the first 5G NR signal, generate and transmit a second 5G NR signal;

receive via the 5G NR transceiver a third 5G NR signal in response to the transmitting of the second 5G NR signal, the third 5G NR signal having been sent from a position aligned with the second computer and the first distance;

determine, via performing triangulation using the received third 5G NR signal, a height of the vehicle; and

in response to the height exceeding a clearance distance of a stationary roadway structure associated with the computer system, generate and transmit a first response signal for altering a travel path of the approaching vehicle to avoid the stationary roadway structure.

9. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, and third 5G NR signals operate at a frequency range of 24 GHz to 300 GHz.

10. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the approaching vehicle is an autonomous vehicle comprising a human-machine interface; and

wherein the first response signal comprises a 5G URLLC signal that is receivable via the human-machine interface of the autonomous vehicle.

11. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the first response signal is configured to cause the autonomous vehicle to perform a braking action.

12. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the 5G URLLC signal operates at a pre-determined frequency and the autonomous vehicle is programmed to search for signals at the pre-determined frequency.

13. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the first response signal is configured to cause an audio speaker associated with the approaching vehicle to audibly play a warning sound.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2023
From: IYENGAR, ASHOK KUMAR; RAMACHANDRAN, KRISHNA KUMAR; KRISHNA PRASAD, SHARATH PRASAD; JONES, BRANDON CURNEY; GORTI, SAI SRINIVAS; SAEZ, JERIC
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063130/0239 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240326834A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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