IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,586,460
Granted Patent B2
US 12,586,460 · App. 18/677,995 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

User guide system for a pedestrian path

Inventors: Rohit Gupta (Santa Clara, CA); Benjamin Piya Austin (Saline, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
G08G1/005G08B3/00G08B5/00G08B6/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,586,460
App. No.
18/677,995
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to guiding a user travelling along a path. In one embodiment, a method includes predicting, by a processor, a behavior of a user based on at least sensor data received by the processor. The user is travelling on a pedestrian path. The method further includes, in response to a predicted behavior, controlling a guide, by the processor, to output the guide along the pedestrian path to direct the user.

Claims (60)

1 . A method comprising:

predicting, by a processor, a behavior of a user based on at least sensor data received by the processor, the user travelling on a pedestrian path;

in response to a predicted behavior, controlling a guide by the processor to output the guide along the pedestrian path to direct the user; and

in response to the user being outside a safe zone, controlling by a processor, a physical barrier proximate to the user to erect the physical barrier proximate to the user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

predicting the behavior of the user based on historical information.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the user is outside the safe zone within the pedestrian path; and

in response to the user being outside the safe zone, controlling the guide by the processor to output an alert.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the alert includes at least one of:

an audio alert;

a visual alert; or

a haptic alert.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the guide includes at least one of:

a physical barrier;

a haptic system;

an audio system; or

a visual display.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the predicted behavior, controlling the guide by the processor to output an alert.

7 . A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

predict a behavior of a user based on at least sensor data, the user travelling on a pedestrian path;

in response to a predicted behavior, control a guide to output the guide along the pedestrian path to direct the user; and

in response to the user being outside a safe zone, control a physical barrier proximate to the user to erect the physical barrier proximate to the user.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

predict the behavior of the user based on historical information.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

determine whether the user is outside the safe zone within the pedestrian path; and

in response to the user being outside the safe zone, control the guide to output an alert.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the alert includes at least one of:

an audio alert;

a visual alert; or

a haptic alert.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the guide includes at least one of:

a physical barrier;

a haptic system;

an audio system; or

a visual display.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

in response to the predicted behavior, control the guide to output an alert.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

predict a behavior of a user based on at least sensor data, the user travelling on a pedestrian path;

in response to a predicted behavior, control a guide to output the guide along the pedestrian path to direct the user; and

in response to the user being outside a safe zone, control a physical barrier proximate to the user to erect the physical barrier proximate to the user.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

predict the behavior of the user based on historical information.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:

determine whether the user is outside the safe zone within the pedestrian path; and

in response to the user being outside the safe zone, control the guide to output an alert.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the alert includes at least one of:

an audio alert;

a visual alert; or

a haptic alert.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the guide includes at least one of:

a physical barrier;

a haptic system;

an audio system; or

a visual display.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2026
From: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 074740/0569 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: GUPTA, ROHIT; AUSTIN, BENJAMIN PIYA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 067627/0455 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250371973A1 · Dec 4, 2025
References Cited (13)
US 20120223843A1 · Wall · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20220415163A1 · Nishimura · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 105894833A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 110176137A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 210827188U · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016057858A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 101554971B1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 101713252B1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
KR 101879383B1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
KR 102181222B1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 102598190B1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
RO 202100014U2 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022144744A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]