IP Library Granted Patent US 10,703,385
Granted Patent B2
US 10,703,385 · App. 16/587,004 · Granted Jul 7, 2020

Contextual autonomous vehicle support through written interaction

Inventors: Jacqueline Mary Shannon (San Francisco, CA); Stephanie Olivia Engle (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
B60W50/14B60K35/00G05D1/0088B60K2370/1438B60K2370/152B60W2050/146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,703,385
App. No.
16/587,004
Granted
Jul 7, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An autonomous vehicle including a sensor system that outputs a sensor signal indicative of a condition of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle also includes a user interface device with a display. A computing system determines, based upon a profile of the passenger, that support is to be provided textually to the passenger when the support is provided to the passenger. The computing system further detects occurrence of an event that has been identified as potentially causing discomfort to the passenger. The computing system yet further sets a predefined support message defined in an account corresponding to the event maintained in a database prior to occurrence of the event as a support message to be presented to the passenger. The computing system additionally causes the display to present the support message textually, wherein the textual support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

Claims (52)

1. An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a sensor system configured to output a sensor signal;

a display;

a computing system that is in communication with the sensor system and the display, wherein the computing system comprises:

a processor; and

memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a type of an event during a ride of a passenger in the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor signal outputted by the sensor system; and

responsive to detecting the occurrence of the type of the event and based on a profile of the passenger, causing the display to present a textual support message that is contextually relevant to the type of the event, wherein the profile of the passenger specifies that autonomous vehicle support for the passenger is to be effectuated using written communication, and wherein the textual support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

2. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

selecting the textual support message based on the type of the event, wherein the textual support message is a predefined support message specified as being relevant to the type of the event.

3. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

generating the textual support message based on the type of the event utilizing a machine learning model.

4. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vehicle support is automatically triggered responsive to detecting the occurrence of the type of the event.

5. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the type of the event is predefined as potentially causing passenger discomfort.

6. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the textual support message comprises textual content selectable by the passenger via the display.

7. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

receiving the feedback from the passenger, the feedback being a detected touch of a portion of the display that presents the textual support message.

8. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, establishing a written chat session for the passenger with a support agent.

9. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, establishing a written chat session for the passenger with a digital assistant.

10. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, causing the display to present a textual response support message, wherein content of the textual response support message is based on the feedback from the passenger.

11. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a vehicle propulsion system;

a braking system; and

a steering system;

wherein the acts further comprise:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, controlling at least one of the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, or the steering system based on the feedback from the passenger.

12. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , the acts further comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a differing type of an event during the ride of the passenger in the autonomous vehicle based on the sensor signal outputted by the sensor system; and

responsive to detecting the occurrence of the differing type of the event and based on the profile of the passenger, causing the display to present a differing textual support message that is contextually relevant to the differing type of the event.

13. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a passenger support system, an occurrence of a type of an event during a ride of a passenger in an autonomous vehicle; and

responsive to detecting the occurrence of the type of the event and based on a profile of the passenger, causing a display in the autonomous vehicle to present a textual support message that is contextually relevant to the type of the event, wherein the profile of the passenger specifies that autonomous vehicle support for the passenger is to be effectuated using written communication, and wherein the textual support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

selecting, by the passenger support system, the textual support message based on the type of the event, wherein the textual support message is a predefined support message specified as being relevant to the type of the event.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating, by the passenger support system, the textual support message based on the type of the event utilizing a machine learning model.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, establishing a written chat session for the passenger with a support agent.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, establishing a written chat session for the passenger with a digital assistant.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, causing the display to present a textual response support message, wherein content of the textual response support message is based on the feedback from the passenger.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving the feedback from the passenger, controlling at least one of a vehicle propulsion system of the autonomous vehicle, a braking system of the autonomous vehicle, or a steering system of the autonomous vehicle based on the feedback from the passenger.

20. A computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

memory that comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts including:

detecting an occurrence of a type of an event during a ride of a passenger in an autonomous vehicle; and

responsive to detecting the occurrence of the type of the event and based on a profile of the passenger, causing a display in the autonomous vehicle to present a textual support message that is contextually relevant to the type of the event, wherein the profile of the passenger specifies that autonomous vehicle support for the passenger is to be effectuated using written communication, and wherein the textual support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2019
From: SHANNON, JACQUELINE MARY; ENGLE, STEPHANIE OLIVIA
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 050557/0514 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16192174 · Nov 15, 2018
Related Publication 20200156656A1 · May 21, 2020