WO2007089996A2

WO2007089996A2 - Creating and maintaining geographic networks

Info

Publication number: WO2007089996A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/060738
Authority: WO
Inventors: Corroll C. Kellum
Original assignee: Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-01-27
Filing date: 2007-01-19
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: WO2007089996A3

Abstract

A method for providing geographic networks. The method includes receiving information about a geographic region at a first vehicle, the information including a type and a geographic location of the geographic region. If the first vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region, then the received information is updated with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle. The information is then transmitted to a second vehicle. Thus, the first vehicle and the second vehicle form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating the information about the geographic region.

Description

CREATING AND MAINTAINING GEOGRAPHIC NETWORKS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless networks,, and more particularly, to creating and maintaining geographic networks.

[0002] An increasing number of vehicles are equipped with telematics units for performing mobile communication functions. Vehicles can communicate with other vehicles and with fixed network servers via their telematics units. In communicating with each other, mobile devices (e.g., telematics units on vehicles) may employ one or more different packet routing methods to route wireless digital packets between mobile hosts (e.g., vehicles) in an ad-hoc mobile network. IEEE 802.11 defines a family of wireless communication protocols available for use in wireless networking.

[0003] There has also been an increase in lhe kind and amount of data that is collected, communicated and saved between vehicles. Data may relate to traffic congestion information, roadway conditions and construction locations. Typically, the data is communicated from one vehicle to another via the telematics units and the persistent data stored at a fixed network server location. It is costly to provide communication links from fixed servers to mobile vehicles and therefore, providing local information (e.g., roadway grade, up-to-date traffic congestion information) to a large number of vehicles may not be financially feasible.

[0004] It would be desirable to have a low cost method of keeping information about a geographic region local to the geographic region. This would eliminate the need for a fixed network server and the costs associated with creating and maintaining the fixed network server as well as the costs associated with communicating from the vehicles to the fixed network server. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, a method provides geographic networks. The method includes receiving information about a geographic region at a first vehicle, the information including a type and a geographic location of the geographic region. If the first vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region, then the received information is updated with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle. The information is then transmitted to a second vehicle. Thus, the first vehicle and the second vehicle form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating the information about the geographic region.

[0006] In another aspect of the invention, a system provides geographic networks. The system includes a telematics unit, a geographic location detection device, and a processor in communication with the geographic location detection device and the telematics unit. The processor includes instructions for facilitating receiving information about a geographic region at a first vehicle, the information including a type and a geographic location of the geographic region. The receiving is via the telematics unit. If the first vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region, as determined by comparing geographic locations of the first vehicle detected by the geographic location detection device to the geographic location of the geographic region, then the received information is updated with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle. The information is transmitted to a second vehicle via the telematics unit. At some time in the future or some distance from the geographic region, the first vehicle could discard the information about the geographic region. Thus, the first vehicle and the second vehicle form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating the information about the geographic region.

[0007] Tn a further aspect of the invention, a computer program product provides geographic networks. The computer program product includes a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving information about a geographic region at a first vehicle, the information including a type and a geographic location of the geographic region. If the first vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region, then the received information is updated with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle. The information is then transmitted to a second vehicle. At some time in the future or some distance from the geographic region, the first vehicle could discard the information about the geographic region. Thus, the first vehicle and the second vehicle form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating the information about the geographic region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Referring now to the figures, which are meant to be exemplary embodiments, and wherein the like elements are numbered alike:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of scenario where exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to provide geographic networks;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an overview of a process flow that may be implemented by exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a process flow that may be implemented by exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

[0012] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system that may be implemented by exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Exemplary embodiments keep information pertaining to a geographic region local to the geographic region. Vehicles near the geographic region are utilized to update the information and to temporarily store the information. Exemplary embodiments eliminate the need for a fixed network server location to store the information pertaining to the geographic region. Exemplary embodiments reduce the processing requirements for any one vehicle by utilizing the network information without requiring each vehicle to maintain its own database of information for all geographic regions.

[0014] Given the recent progress in short range wireless communication (e.g., IERE 802.11 technologies), vehicles in the future may be equipped with communication devices (also referred to herein as telematics units) capable of communication of up to one thousand meters in a multi-channel communication environment such as, but not limited to, IEEE 802.1 Ip. When a communication device such as this is coupled with a positioning system (e.g., GPS and Galileo), multiple moving communicating vehicles have the ability to propagate and maintain information in geographic regions without the requirement of non- volatile memory. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow information to exist geographically without the need for any one dedicated server. The cost of this flexibility is that the information may vanish if vehicles are not near the region or the information expires with no suitable replacement.

[0015] As a vehicle moves throughout a region, devices on the vehicle can independently determine information about the region that is has just passed through. A vehicle device may estimate the roadway shape based on position information such as, but not limited to, latitude, longitude and ellipsoidal height. The vehicle may estimate roadway grade from position information along with chassis and power-train information received from devices on the vehicle. Historical speed may be tracked as a function of vehicle position and traffic congestion tracked (e.g., via object detection sensor devices or through tracking other wirelessly equipped vehicles) as a function of vehicle position. Further, large potholes, slippery patches and/or other abnormalities in the roadway may be identified by devices on the vehicle.

[0016] By communicating with a subset of surrounding vehicles in the region, a vehicle can enhance and broaden the information estimated. For example, estimates of roadway shape and grade can be augmented by using estimates made by other vehicles in the immediate surrounding area. Estimates of traffic congestion from many vehicles in the geographic region can be used to provide a better traffic congestion estimate for traffic heading in all directions. Multiple vehicles identifying the same slippery patch of roadway would provide a more reliable estimate of its location and the likely impact on any driver approaching the area. Some vehicles may already possess data that is contained non-volatile memory and can be shared with other vehicles. For example, one vehicle may have a device with a very accurate map of the roadway grade. This map may be used to improve or "seed" the locally generated roadway grade data.

[0017] Some data may be able to be generated by some vehicles but not others. For example, one vehicle could have a vision system device on the vehicle that identifies stop signs, speed limit signs, and/or construction signs that other vehicles cannot identify. The vision system equipped vehicle can share this information with other vehicles in the area. The geographic network described herein can maintain that information indefinitely as long as vehicles continue to approach the region. Depending on the information generated, the information may be discarded for fear that it may become stale. For example, speed limit data can be maintained in a region for months while construction data may be discarded after a few hours.

[0018] Given the creation of the data (as described above) in a vehicle, the data can be distributed by communicating the information to vehicles likely to head towards the geographic region. The likelihood of a vehicle to approach a region could be determined in a number of ways (e.g., known destination of vehicle, known route of vehicle, typical route of vehicle, and knowledge of the road network in the regions from a map database). In exemplary embodiments, the data is transmitted to all oncoming traffic. The oncoming traffic may then utilize the data to benefit the driver. Also, the oncoming traffic, could, in-turn, transmit the data to its oncoming traffic once it has traveled to a point where its oncoming traffic is heading towards the region.

[0019] Depending on the type of application, some information may not be held at the specific location identified by the geographic region but might be held at areas approaching the region. For example, FIG. 1 depicts how information about a specific location on a roadway may be maintained in geographic networks 102 104 on either side of the specific location, or region of interest 106. Information is held in the two locations (i.e., geographic network 102 and geographic network 104) in order to allow vehicles approaching from either side to receive the information while allowing adequate time to act on the information. For information relevant to only one direction of traffic, the information may only be held in one location. Determinations of where to keep the information are application specific. Exemplary embodiments may be utilized to implement information being kept in one or more locations at specified distances from the region of interest.

[0020] In exemplary embodiments, the decision to pass information on to another vehicle may be based on the detected and/or expected penetration of communicating vehicles within the region. In exemplary embodiments, the distribution of information occurs via broadcast messages available to anyone within the communication range. In addition, exemplary embodiments support the use of unicast messages to distribute the information. Further, the information may be encrypted to maintain confidentiality and different types of information may have different types of encryption or different encryption keys. In this manner, for example, information with a type of traffic congestion may be available only to subscribers of a traffic service (with a first encryption key) and information with a type of roadway obstruction may be available to all vehicles in the geographic region (with a second, or public encryption key).

[0021] Once the information is generated and distributed, vehicles can use the data to benefit the driver. For example, the information may be utilized to improve the vehicle's estimate of the vehicle's path using the roadway shape. In addition, the information may be utilized by the vehicle to improve fuel economy or driver performance by using the derived roadway grade. The information may also be utilized by the vehicle for a variety of other purposes including, but not limited to, informing the driver about: traffic congestion on an upcoming road segment, potholes or other roadway abnormalities and/or potentially unsafe conditions of the roadway such as a slippery road.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an overview of a process flow that may be implemented by exemplary embodiments of the present invention to form a geographic network. The process starts at block 202. At block 204, a vehicle passes through a region and generates information relevant to the region (e.g., pothole location and roadway grade). In exemplary embodiments, the information is generated by devices located on the vehicle (e.g., sensor devices, vision devices, and combinations of devices such as thermostats and windshield wiper status detection devices, etc.) This generated information is created locally by the vehicle (i.e., not received from other vehicles) and is also referred to herein as data about the geographic region collected by the vehicle. In exemplary embodiments, no information is currently available about the geographic location and at block 204, the vehicle creates the information from the data collected by the vehicle. This information may then be transmitted to other vehicles. At block 206, the vehicle passes the information to other vehicles likely to approach the geographic region. At block 208, the other vehicles utilize the information about the upcoming region to aid the operators of the vehicles. At block 210, it is determined if other vehicles have passed through the geographic region. If they have not, then processing continues a block 206. If they have, then at block 212, the information may be updated and improved based on information gained by the other vehicles passing through the geographic region.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a process flow that may be implemented by exemplary embodiments of the present invention to form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating information about a geographic region. At block 302, a first vehicle receives information about a geographic region. The information includes a type and a geographic location of the region. The type specifies an item of interest to other drivers in the geographic region such as, but not limited to: a roadway shape, a roadway grade, a traffic congestion level, a roadway obstruction, a roadway condition, and/or a geographic commercial advertisement (e.g., for a gas station). Other types (including other groupings and granularities) are also possible to specify any item of interest that would be helpful for a vehicle in the area to be aware of before approaching the geographic region.

[0024] The geographic location of the geographic region may be represented as a single global positioning system (GPS) coordinate (e.g., to specify a pothole) or alternatively, as a range of GPS coordinates (e.g., to specify a traffic accident). The information may also include other data about the item specified by the type such as an estimated roadway grade or a pothole depth. In addition, the information may include an expiration time (e.g., a date and a date/time) for the information. In exemplary embodiments, the information is not updated or transmitted after the expiration time has passed. A construction site in the region of interest may expire in a few days, while a roadway grade may never expire (but may get updated over time). In this manner, short term conditions may be communicated via the geographic network.

[0025 J In exemplary embodiments, the information is received from a third vehicle. In addition, the information could be received from a plurality of vehicles nearby the first vehicle. In this case, the first vehicle may select the first one received to process (e.g., updated if appropriate) and transmit, or alternatively, the first vehicle may select which information received about the geographic region should be processed and transmitted to the second vehicle. This selection could be based on a time stamp in the information that reflects how current the information is or it may be based on the contents of the information received (e.g., has it been verified by a vehicle passing through the region and how recently). This selection could also be based on the revision number of the software executing in each of the vehicles.

[0026] At block 304, the information received is updated with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle. This data is collected if the first vehicle is currently located at the geographic region or if the first vehicle has passed through the geographic region. If there is any data, it can be utilized to augment the information received from the third vehicle. For example, devices (e.g,. a GPS device) on the first vehicle may be able to provide a more precise estimate of where the item of interest in the geographic region is located. This may be due to the GPS device on the first vehicle supporting a higher accuracy than the GPS device on the vehicle that created the information that was sent to the first vehicle. If the first vehicle is not currently located at the geographic region and the first vehicle has not passed through the geographic region, then the updating is skipped. In some cases, the first vehicle may be currently located at the current region or the first vehicle has passed through the geographic region and there is no additional data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle. This could be caused by the first vehicle not having devices to collect data about the geographic region.

[0027] At block 306, the information is transmitted to a second vehicle. In exemplary embodiments, the transmitting is via a broadcast and the second vehicle is within a transmission range associated with the broadcast. Other vehicles, if any, within the transmission range would also receive the broadcast. In other exemplary embodiments, the transmitting is to oncoming traffic (i.e., traffic that is likely to pass through the geographic region), with the second vehicle being within a transmission range associated with the transmitting and the second vehicle being in the oncoming traffic. In this manner, the first vehicle passes the information to the cars behind (and in front of it after passing through the geographic region) so that they may process the information before passing through the geographic region. In other exemplary embodiments, the transmitting is via a unicast. Additionally, the transmitting may occur on a periodic basis. The periodic basis may be dependent on a penetration of vehicles within a transmission range associated with the transmitting. For example, in a high penetration area, not all vehicles need to share their updated information.

[0028] Li addition to being transmitted, the information is also utilized at the first vehicle to aid in operating the first vehicle. In exemplary embodiments, the information is communicated to an operator of the first vehicle to make the operator aware of items of interest in an upcoming geographic region. In exemplary embodiments, the information is utilized directly by the vehicle to improve the performance of the vehicle (e.g., to improve the fuel economy, to improve a transmission shift pattern) and/or as input to a driver assistance system for input to determining assistance to be provided to an operator of the vehicle. For example, if the first vehicle receives information about a slippery road in an upcoming geographic region, the first vehicle may automatically put itself into four-wheel drive when it approaches the geographic location of the geographic region and communicate the action the operator. In another example, if the first vehicle receives information about a roadway obstruction, mapping software on the first vehicle may automatically calculate a new route and communicate the reason for the new route to the operator. These two scenarios are intended to be exemplary in nature and many other scenarios where the first vehicle utilizes the information to aid in operating the vehicle are possible,

[0029] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system that may be implemented by exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 includes a first vehicle 402 and a second vehicle 404. The first vehicle 402 includes a telematics unit for communicating with the second vehicle 404 (and other vehicles), a GPS device (or any other geographic location detection device for determining the geographic location of the first vehicle 402) and a processor for providing logic for facilitating the receiving, updating and transmitting of information about the geographic region. The logic may be implemented by hardware and/or software and in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is implemented by software that is located on a dedicated or shared microprocessor in the first vehicle 402. The first vehicle also includes vehicle devices such as, but not limited to: mapping software, vision systems, vehicle speed detectors, etc.

[0030] The GPS device is utilized to determine the geographic position of the first vehicle for a comparison the geographic region to be able to determine if the first vehicle is located at or ahs passed by the geographic region. The second vehicle 404 also includes a telematics unit, a GPS device and a processor for facilitating the receiving, updating and transmitting of information about the geographic region. In exemplary embodiments, after the second device 404 receives the information from the first device, it performs the processing depicted in FIG- 3 and transmits the results to an other vehicle, thereby keeping the geographic network in operation.

[0031] The receiving and transmitting between the first vehicle 402 and the second vehicle 404 may be provided by any method known in the art, including, but not limited to any IEEE 802.11 protocol or any dedicated short range communication (DSRC) device utilizing a single or multiple channel protocol with fixed or variable transmission power. In exemplary embodiments, the receiving and transmitting are performed via the telematics units. [0032} Alternate exemplary embodiments provide infrastructure connections which allow the transmission of data to fixed servers and the persistence of information through a fixed server. For example, if there are no cars in a geographic boundary of the geographic region, a vehicle may transmit the information to a fixed server so that the information is not lost. A subsequent vehicle entering a geographic region could check at the fixed server if information about the region is not received from another vehicle. The connection to the fixed server could be through the same short range communication device used to communicate with other vehicles or could be a longer range communication device such as a cell phone.

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to have geographical information maintained by a network of vehicles near the geographic region rather than utilizing a dedicated storage device for maintaining the geographical information. The information can be easily accessed by vehicles near the geographic region without requiring a connection to server whose geographic location may be distant,

[0034] Exemplary embodiments also provide a method for retaining "geo- virtual" information without a fixed server. In addition, exemplary embodiments provide a method for improving/updating the "geo- virtual" information based on subsequent trips over different times. Exemplary embodiments do not require nonvolatile storage on the vehicles. In addition, exemplary embodiments utilize telematics units, GPS receivers and processors (with a small amount of additional logic) already located on many vehicles to perform the functions described herein. This results in a low-cost solution for providing geographic region specific information to vehicles.

[0035] As described above, the embodiments of the invention may be embodied in the form of hardware, software, firmware, or any processes and/or apparatuses for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments of the invention may also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

[0036] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for providing geographic networks, the method comprising:

receiving information about a geographic region at a first vehicle, the information including a type and a geographic location of the geographic region;

if the first vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region, then updating the received information with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle; and

transmitting the information to a second vehicle;

wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating the information about the geographic region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the type is one or more of a roadway shape, a roadway grade, a traffic congestion, a roadway obstruction, a roadway condition, and a geographic commercial advertisement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location includes a global positioning system (GPS) coordinate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location includes a range of GPS coordinates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is received from a third vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region and the information received from the third vehicle is data about the geographic region collected by the third vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is via a broadcast and the second vehicle is within a broadcast range associated with the broadcast.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is to oncoming traffic, the second vehicle is within a transmission range associated with the transmitting and the second vehicle is in the oncoming traffic.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is to traffic likely to travel through the geographic region, the second vehicle is within a transmission range associated with the transmitting and the second vehicle is in the traffic likely to travel through the geographic region.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is via a unicast.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting occurs on a periodic basis and the periodic basis is dependent on a penetration of vehicles within a transmission range associated with the transmitting,

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the information to aid in operating the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the information to improve one or more of fuel economy and transmission shift pattern on the First vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing all or a subset of the information to an operator of the first vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the information to a driver assistance system on the first vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system utilizes the information in determining assistance to be provided to an operator of the first vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further includes an expiration time, and the information is not transmitted to the second vehicle after the expiration time.

17. A system for providing geographic networks, comprising;

a telematics unit;

a geographic location detection device; and

a processor in communication with the geographic location detection device and the telematics unit, the processor including instructions for facilitating:

receiving information about a geographic region at a first vehicle, the information including a type and a geographic location of the geographic region, the receiving via the telematics unit;

if the first vehicle is located at or has passed through the geographic region as determined by comparing geographic locations of the first vehicle detected by the geographic location detection device to the geographic location of the geographic region, then updating the received information with any data about the geographic region collected by the first vehicle; and

transmitting the information to a second vehicle, the transmitting via the telematics unit;

wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle form a geographic network for temporarily storing and communicating the information about the geograhpic region.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographic network is a wireless network.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the telematics unit utilizes an 802.11 standard.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the information is received from a third vehicle.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the data is collected by one or more devices located on the first vehicle.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further facilitate using the information to aid in operating the first vehicle.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographic network is encrypted.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein different types of information are encrypted with one or more of different encryption methods and different encryption keys.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further facilitate transmitting the information to a fixed server for storage and distribution through a digital communications channel.

26. A computer program product for providing geographic networks, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method, the method including:

transmitting the information to a second vehicle;