Monitoring the health status of a motor vehicle driver

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the health status of a driver of a motor vehicle, to a device (100) implementing such a method, and to a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Monitoring the health status of a motor vehicle driver Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computerized systems embedded in motor vehicles to improve driving safety and vehicle ergonomics. The invention relates in particular to a method of monitoring, by means of a computer device embedded in a motor vehicle, the health status of the vehicle's driver. The invention also relates to a device implementing such a method and to a motor vehicle comprising such a device. The invention is applicable to motor vehicles such as motor land vehicles, in particular cars. Prior art

[0002] It is known that unwellness while driving is unfortunately sometimes the cause of road accidents. However, despite this fact, and while drivers' driving time is generally increasing, there is currently no vehicle capable of monitoring the driver's health in real time and automatically providing an estimate of their risk of experiencing a health problem. Consequently, known motor vehicles suffer from a deficiency in driving safety due to their inability to provide appropriate means to minimize this recurring cause of road accidents, which can unfortunately affect any driver at some point. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to solve this problem. In particular, the invention aims to provide a solution for monitoring the health status of a motor vehicle driver in order to inform them appropriately when they are at risk of experiencing a health problem. In this way, the invention is intended to contribute to improving road safety and the ergonomics of motor vehicles.

[0004] In order to achieve these goals, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of monitoring, by means of a computer device installed on board a motor vehicle, the state of health of the vehicle's driver, the method comprising the steps of: i. obtain at least data characterizing at least one health indicator and at least one driver habit from at least one data source hosted in a computer cloud; ii. to feed, with the data obtained during step i), an artificial intelligence module establishing a predictive model to determine data characterizing at least one estimate of the driver's risk of experiencing a health problem, the predictive model having been established based on data characterizing health indicators and driver habits, data characterizing measurements of drivers' physiological parameters taken using detection devices on board motor vehicles, and data characterizing drivers' histories of health problems; and iii. trigger the release of initial content in the vehicle based on said estimate.

[0005] According to one variant, step i) may include a step of obtaining data characterizing at least one measurement of a physiological parameter of the driver which is carried out by means of a vehicle detection device.

[0006] According to another variant, the method may further include a step consisting of triggering, when said estimate is greater than a pre-established threshold value, the dissemination in the vehicle of at least one instruction to be carried out in order to establish, by interacting with a detection device of the vehicle, data characterizing at least one capacity of the driver at the current moment.

[0007] According to yet another variant, the method may further include a step consisting of feeding the artificial intelligence module with data characterizing at least one capability of the driver at the current moment in order to establish a second content.

[0008] According to yet another variant, step iii) may include a step consisting of initiating communication with a rescue service.

[0009] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for monitoring the health status of the driver of a motor vehicle, the device comprising at least one information processing unit, including at least one processor, and a data storage medium, which are configured to implement a method as described above.

[0010] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of a process as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0012] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a device as described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] [Fig-1] is a diagram of the context of the invention;

[0015] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention; and

[0016] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a process according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the context of the invention. It notably shows a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This vehicle is conventionally equipped with a detection system 2, comprising a plurality of detection devices (e.g., camera, microphone, pressure sensor, hygrometer, olfactory sensor, heart rate sensor, etc.), and a human-machine interface 3, comprising components for displaying visual and audible content within the vehicle's passenger compartment. The vehicle 1 according to the invention also includes a radio frequency communication system 4, with which it can communicate (i.e., send and receive data) with remote communicating entities using conventional wireless communication networks and protocols (3G / 4G / 5G, V2X, etc.), particularly for obtaining data from a data source 5 hosted in a cloud computing environment.Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also includes a device 100 for monitoring the health status of the driver of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as described below, which implements a method for monitoring the health status of the driver of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail further down.

[0018] During the implementation of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention first obtains health indicators and driver habits from the data source 5. This data is optionally related to measurements of physiological parameters of the driver carried out in real time by means of the detection device 2. The data obtained are then processed by an artificial intelligence having been trained by supervised learning on the basis of training data specifically chosen to obtain an estimate of the risk for the driver of experiencing a health problem, possibly related to one or more particular pathologies.One or more pieces of content, determined based on one or more calculated risk assessments, are provided to the driver via the human-machine interface 3, possibly in addition to instructions to refine a preliminary diagnosis, always using artificial intelligence. This is how the health status of a [driver / patient] is monitored. driver of a motor vehicle and that he can be informed in a relevant manner when he is at risk of suffering a health problem.

[0019] The driver health monitoring device 100 according to the invention is illustrated in [Fig. 2]. It is fundamentally a computer device comprising at least one information processing unit 101 with one or more processors, a data storage medium 102 on which is stored a program including program code instructions for executing the steps of the method according to the invention described below, and an input / output interface 103 for receiving and transmitting data. Furthermore, in order to implement at least one step of the method according to the invention described below, the device 100 advantageously includes an artificial intelligence module 104, comprising, for example, an artificial neural network, which establishes a predictive model during a training phase explained in detail later.

[0020] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is integrated into an independent computer and interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired vehicle communication network (e.g., CAN, Ethernet, MOST) – represented in [Fig. 1] by the double-direction arrows – with the detection equipment 2, the human-machine interface 3 and the radio frequency signal communication system 4. By means of these means, the device 100 according to the invention can, in particular, obtain data from the data source 5, and it can cause the dissemination of content visually and audibly in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1.

[0021] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for monitoring the health status of the driver of a motor vehicle, as described below in relation to figures 1 and 3.

[0022] Figure 3 illustrates in diagram form the steps of the method according to the invention. According to a first step 201, the device 100 according to the invention obtains at least one data characterizing a health indicator and at least one habit of the driver from at least one data source 5 hosted in a computer cloud. Indeed, after identifying the driver of the vehicle 1, for example by means of an input made by the driver or via a user profile managed by the human-machine interface 3, the device 100 according to the invention initiates the monitoring of their health status by obtaining information on their health as well as on their habits which are hosted on at least one remote data source 5.The device 100 according to the invention interacts for this purpose with the vehicle's radio frequency signal communication system 4, which allows data retrieval requests to be routed to data sources, which provide the requested data in response.

[0023] The first part of this data that is obtained therefore identifies indicators health data includes, for example, information relating to illnesses contracted, surgical procedures undergone, therapeutic treatments received, etc. Such data is primarily managed by health or health insurance organizations. Alternatively, it can also be compiled by car manufacturers in the form of simplified medical records based on information provided by drivers.

[0024] The second part of the data obtained provides information about the driver's habits, for example, daily driving time, possible tobacco or alcohol consumption, average rest time, etc. Such data is, for example, compiled by a car manufacturer over time, potentially by using data collected from vehicle 1 or based on data produced by organizations or authorities (e.g., data generated by means of an on-board breathalyzer provided by an insurance company).

[0025] According to a particular embodiment, in which the device 100 of the invention monitors an overall health risk, i.e., it merely estimates whether the driver is at risk of experiencing a health problem unrelated to any specific pathology, the device 100 of the invention also obtains data characterizing at least one measurement of a physiological parameter of the driver, a measurement which is carried out by means of the detection equipment 2 of the vehicle. Such a measured physiological parameter may be heart rate, measured for example by means of a sensor integrated into the steering wheel of the vehicle 1, respiratory rate, measured for example by means of a microphone, body temperature, identification of a type of posture, etc.In other words, the device 100 according to the invention obtains during this first step 201 also data which are likely to provide information on the state of health of the driver at the current moment.

[0026] Then, according to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention feeds its artificial intelligence module 104 with the data obtained during the first step 201 in order to determine data characterizing at least one estimate of the risk of the driver suffering a health problem, possibly related to a particular pathology.

[0027] To this end, the artificial intelligence module 104 was previously trained as follows to establish a predictive model capable of estimating an overall health risk or, possibly, a risk related to a specific pathology. A sample of drivers was segmented, based on medical records and possibly health histories, into two categories: healthy drivers and drivers at risk of experiencing a health problem, possibly related to a specific pathology. Physiological parameters of these drivers were then monitored using detection devices. onboard their vehicles, the monitored parameters are potentially adapted according to a particular pathology. This allowed for the collection of input and output data which enabled the training of the artificial intelligence module 104 to progressively establish a predictive model of overall health risk (i.e., being healthy or, conversely, having a risk of experiencing a health problem) or of health risk related to a particular pathology (i.e., having a risk of experiencing a stroke, for example), based on data characterizing health indicators and driver habits, data characterizing measurements of drivers' physiological parameters taken using detection devices onboard motor vehicles, and data characterizing drivers' histories of health problems.

[0028] Thus, it is thanks to its artificial intelligence module 104, trained in the particular manner described above, that the device 100 according to the invention advantageously determines, during this second step 202, an estimate of the driver's risk of experiencing a health problem, possibly related to a particular pathology. When the artificial intelligence module 104 has been trained in relation to estimating the driver's risk of experiencing a stroke, for example, it is therefore able to determine an estimate of the driver's risk of contracting this particular pathology.

[0029] Finally, according to a third step 203 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously triggers the dissemination of content in the vehicle based on said assessment. When the assessment is not significant, for example, below a pre-established threshold value (e.g., 90%), the device 100 according to the invention does not trigger the dissemination of any content, and it terminates the implementation of the method. Conversely, if the risk assessment is deemed significant, it then triggers the dissemination of content, interacting for this purpose with the vehicle's human-machine interface 3 so that such content is disseminated visually or audibly.

[0030] Thus, when monitoring an overall health risk and the risk estimate determined in the previous step 202 is deemed significant, the device 100 according to the invention causes the dissemination of content which indicates to the driver that he is at risk of experiencing a health problem, possibly by mentioning one or more personalized tips (less smoking, more rest, etc.).

[0031] According to another embodiment, when monitoring a health risk related to a particular pathology, for example stroke, and the risk assessment determined in the previous step 202 is deemed significant, the device 100 according to the invention can advantageously proceed at this stage by carrying out a step in which it triggers the release of a first content which The device indicates to the driver that additional diagnostic steps must be implemented, in addition to one or more instructions to be carried out (e.g., "turn the steering wheel in both directions," "recognize a shape in this image," etc.). By interacting with the detection equipment 2 of the vehicle 1, the device 100 according to the invention can then establish data characterizing at least one of the driver's abilities at the current moment (e.g., movement ability, vision ability, comprehension ability, speech ability, etc.). It then uses this real-time monitoring data of the driver's abilities to feed its artificial intelligence module 104, which has been trained with similar training data in order to be able to monitor a driver's health status in relation to the risk of suffering, for example, a stroke.Thus, possibly by determining a new risk assessment, the device 100 according to the invention can advantageously confirm at this stage the driver's risk of suffering such a condition. If the driver's risk of having a stroke is thus confirmed, the device 100 according to the invention triggers a new broadcast of content in the vehicle 1, which informs the driver that they are at risk of suffering, for example, a stroke, possibly by providing one or more personalized tips. According to an advantageous alternative, the device 100 according to the invention initiates communication with an emergency service, for example, a telephone call, by interacting with the vehicle 1's radio frequency communication system 4.

[0032] Therefore, thanks to the method and device according to the invention described above, a solution is provided for monitoring the health status of a driver of a motor vehicle in order to inform them appropriately when they are at risk of experiencing a health problem, possibly related to one or more specific pathologies. In this way, the invention undoubtedly contributes to improving road safety and the ergonomics of motor vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for monitoring, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the state of health of the driver of the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. obtaining at least data characterizing at least one health indicator and at least one habit of the driver from at least one data source hosted in a computer cloud; ii.feeding with the data obtained during step i) an artificial intelligence module (104) establishing a predictive model in order to determine data characterizing at least one estimate of the driver's risk of suffering a health problem, the predictive model having been established on the basis of data characterizing health indicators and driver habits, data characterizing measurements of physiological parameters of drivers carried out by means of detection devices on board motor vehicles and data characterizing histories of health problems suffered by drivers; and iii. causing the broadcasting in the vehicle of a first content on the basis of said estimate.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that step i) comprises a step consisting of obtaining data characterizing at least one measurement of a physiological parameter of the driver which is carried out by means of detection equipment (2) of the vehicle.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises a step consisting of causing, as soon as said estimate is greater than a pre-established threshold value, the broadcasting in the vehicle of at least one instruction to be carried out in order to establish, by interacting with a detection device (2) of the vehicle, data characterizing at least one capacity of the driver at the current time.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of feeding the artificial intelligence module (104) with the data characterizing at least one capacity of the driver at the current time in order to establish a second content.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that step iii) comprises a step of causing communication to be made with an emergency service.

6. Device (100) for monitoring the health status of the driver of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102), which are configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

8. Support usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 7 is recorded therein.

9. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a device (100) according to claim 6.

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