Vehicle Alert Prioritization Using Driver Recognition State

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems prioritize alerts based on estimated time to occurrence without considering the driver's situation, leading to suboptimal alert prioritization.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that senses multiple alert candidates and determines the recognition situation of the driver, prioritizing alerts for targets that are farthest from the driver's sightline direction, using evaluation values combining direction and time to collision, to provide appropriate alerts reflecting the driver's situation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If alerts are prioritized based on estimated time to occurrence, then alerts with shorter time are given higher priority, but the driver's recognition situation is not considered leading to suboptimal alert prioritization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveestimated time to occurrenceVSAvoidalert prioritization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the prioritization parameters from solely time-based to a composite parameter that includes both time to occurrence and driver recognition situation. The control section calculates priority by combining these two factors, transforming the alert prioritization mechanism to achieve both time efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces feedback by continuously monitoring the driver's recognition situation (gaze direction, attention state) and using this information to adjust alert prioritization dynamically. This feedback loop ensures that alert priority reflects both temporal urgency and driver awareness state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple alert candidates are sensed, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but determining the correct priority among them becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-candidate monitoring capabilityVSAvoidpriority determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system resolves complexity by changing the priority determination parameters to a standardized formula that combines time to occurrence and recognition situation. This parameter transformation simplifies the comparison among multiple alert candidates while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control section implements a universal priority calculation mechanism that handles multiple types of alert candidates (pedestrians, vehicles, obstacles) through a single integrated approach. This multi-functional priority determination system manages diverse alert types without requiring separate complex logic for each candidate type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3693241B1Vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3693241B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3693241B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3693241B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle control device comprises a sensing section that senses a vehicle that is a candidate for alerting, and alert control section that, in a case in which the sensing section senses plural vehicles that are candidates for alerting, determines a recognition situation with respect to the plural candidates of alert sensed by the sensing section, by a recognition situation computing section and from a state of a driver that is detected by a state detecting section that detects a state of the driver, and carries out alert control with respect to a target of alert, which is a candidate having a highest priority among the plural candidates of alert for the determined recognition situation.