IP Library Granted Patent US 12,386,366
Granted Patent B2
US 12,386,366 · App. 18/529,004 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Remote support system

Inventor: Ruiko Ito (Nisshin, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G05D1/222G05D1/2279G05D1/69G05D2105/70G05D2109/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,386,366
App. No.
18/529,004
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A remote support system is a remote support system for one remote operator to remotely support a plurality of mobile objects. The remote support system includes a situation acquisition unit, a support difficulty level calculation unit, and a notification unit. The status acquisition unit acquires the work status of the remote operator based on information transmitted from an operator interface operated by the remote operator. The assistance difficulty level calculation unit calculates the assistance difficulty level of the remote operator based on the work status of the remote operator. The notification unit notifies the mobile objects of the assistance difficulty level.

Claims (29)

1. A remote support system comprising:

a plurality of mobile objects each including a display;

an operator interface configured to be operated by a remote operator, the operator interface including a touch panel and a first monitoring camera; and

a server configured to communicate with the plurality of mobile objects and the operator interface, the server including a processor, wherein

the operator interface is configured to

acquire a first image of a face of the remote operator from the first monitoring camera,

receive an input of support information by the remote operator via the touch panel, wherein the support information includes

a number of the plurality of mobile objects assigned to the remote operator, and

a support instruction for remotely supporting the plurality of mobile objects, and

transmit the first image and the support information to the server, and the processor is configured to

receive the first image and the support information from the operator interface,

calculate a first support difficulty level value based on the number of the plurality of mobile objects included in the received support information,

calculate a second support difficulty level value based on contents of the support instruction included in the received support information,

calculate a third support difficulty level value based on the received first image, and

send a first command to a target mobile object of the plurality of mobile objects to cause the display of the target mobile object to display a radar chart, wherein

the first support difficulty level value, the second support difficulty level value, and the third support difficulty level value are plotted on respective axes of the radar chart.

2. The remote support system according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of mobile objects further includes a second monitoring camera that acquires a second image of an outside environment of a corresponding mobile object of the plurality of mobile objects,

the operator interface further includes a monitor, and

the processor is further configured to send a second command to the operator interface to cause the monitor to display the second image to prompt the remote operator to remotely support the corresponding mobile object based on the second image.

3. The remote support system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the number of the plurality of mobile objects is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, wherein

the processor sets the first support difficulty level value to be higher when the number of the plurality of mobile objects is equal to or greater than the predetermined number than when the number of the plurality of mobile objects is less than the predetermined number.

4. The remote support system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to

determine whether the support information indicates that the remote operator is currently remotely supporting a non-target mobile object of the plurality of mobile objects, wherein the non-target mobile object is different from the target mobile object, and

set the second support difficulty level value to be higher when the support information indicates that the remote operator is currently remotely supporting the non-target mobile object than when the support information indicates that the remote operator is currently not remotely supporting the non-target mobile object.

5. The remote support system according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to

detect a line of sight of the remote operator from the acquired first image,

determine whether the line of sight is directed to the monitor, and

set the third support difficulty level value to be higher when the line of sight is directed to the monitor than when the line of sight is not directed to the monitor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2023
From: ITO, RUIKO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 065762/0416 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-016303 · Feb 6, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240264602A1 · Aug 8, 2024
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