Gaze-Based Vehicle Calling for Clear Driver-to-Driver Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for vehicle-to-vehicle communication are inefficient and prone to misinterpretation, such as waving or honking, which can be misunderstood or rude.
Innovation Solution
A gaze-based vehicle-to-vehicle communication system that uses eye trackers to determine if occupants are gazing at a nearby vehicle, then communicates with a remote server to initiate a voice call if the nearby vehicle is available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional communication methods (waving, gesticulating, honking, flashing headlights) are used, then communication can be initiated between vehicle occupants, but the communication may be misunderstood or misconstrued as rude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical communication methods (waving, gesticulating, honking, flashing headlights) with an optical-based gaze tracking system. Eye trackers detect the direction of an occupant's gaze, and the system automatically initiates voice communication when a nearby vehicle is detected in the gaze direction, eliminating the need for ambiguous mechanical gestures.
2Ease of operation
If windows are lowered to speak audibly, then communication can occur between nearby vehicles, but it may be difficult to hear if the vehicles are not very close
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces voice communication technology as an intermediary medium between vehicle occupants. Instead of relying on direct acoustic transmission through open windows, the system uses voice calls transmitted through the vehicle's audio system and the recipient vehicle's audio system, ensuring clear communication regardless of physical distance or window position.
3Reliability
If cellular telephone calls are initiated to communicate between occupants, then clear communication can be achieved, but the process requires knowing each other's contact information and manually initiating the call
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring the occupant's gaze direction and automatically detecting nearby vehicles in the gaze path. When a nearby vehicle is detected, the system proactively offers to initiate communication, eliminating the need for manual contact information lookup and call initiation. The communication process is triggered automatically based on the occupant's visual attention.
4Extent of automation
If eye trackers and gaze detection systems are implemented, then automatic vehicle identification and communication initiation can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universality of modern smartphone technology, which already contains eye tracking capabilities for authentication and interface control. By integrating with the existing smartphone eye tracker rather than implementing a dedicated vehicle-mounted eye tracking system, the patent achieves automatic gaze detection and vehicle identification while minimizing additional device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and clear communication between vehicle occupants without the need for ambiguous gestures or signals, improving communication efficiency and reducing misunderstandings.
Implementation Method 1
a first eye tracker for tracking a first gaze of a first occupant of the vehicle and to generate first gaze direction data
Implementation Method 2
determine an identification of the nearby vehicle by optically recognizing characters of a license plate of the nearby vehicle using the camera
Implementation Method 3
a short-range vehicle-to-vehicle transceiver
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes an eye tracker for tracking a gaze of an occupant of the vehicle. The vehicle has a processor to use gaze direction data to determine if the occupant is gazing at a nearby vehicle sensed by a vehicle-detecting sensor, e.g. a camera, LIDAR or RADAR. The processor determines an identification of the nearby vehicle by optically recognizing characters of a license plate of the nearby vehicle using the camera, or by detecting an identification beacon broadcast by the nearby vehicle using a short-range vehicle-to-vehicle transceiver. The vehicle includes a radiofrequency cellular transceiver to transmit a message to a server to look up the identification of the vehicle and to receive a communication-availability reply message indicating either a communication availability or communication unavailability of the nearby vehicle. The radiofrequency cellular transceiver or the short-range vehicle-to-vehicle transceiver initiates a voice communication with the nearby vehicle.