Vehicle Communication Prioritization for Driver Mode Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles with automated driver assistance systems face challenges in determining when to transition from manual to automated mode based on incoming communications, particularly in scenarios where drivers may need to attend to calls while driving, and in routing communications to passengers within the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that detects the vehicle's operating mode, classifies incoming communications using machine learning, and assesses the driver's state to determine if the vehicle should transition to automated mode or route the communication to a passenger, based on priority and proximity settings established by the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the vehicle operates in manual mode and the driver attends to incoming communications, then the driver can handle personal matters, but the driver's attention is diverted from driving causing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver's ability to handle communicationVSAvoiddriving safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the communication handling function from the driver by automatically answering incoming calls and routing them to passengers, freeing the driver from this distraction while maintaining communication accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated driver assistance system acts as an intermediary between the incoming communication and the driver, managing call routing to passengers or automated handling without requiring direct driver intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the vehicle transitions to automated mode to allow driver communication, then the driver can attend to communications without distraction, but the complexity of mode switching increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver's ability to handle communicationVSAvoidmode switching mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring full transition to automated mode, the system performs partial automation specifically for communication handling while maintaining manual driving mode, reducing the complexity burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the system routes communications to passengers based on proximity, then communication efficiency improves, but the system complexity for detecting and routing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication handling efficiencyVSAvoidpassenger detection and routing system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing sensor data and vehicle communication infrastructure to automatically detect passenger presence and route communications without requiring additional complex detection mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11932285B2Communication prioritization in vehicles with automated driver assistance

Publication Date: 2024.03.19 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Communications are managed and prioritized by a machine learning process in a vehicle with automated driver assistance. It is detected that the vehicle is currently being operated in manual mode by a human driver. It is detected that a telecommunication device located within the vehicle is receiving a communication. The communication is classified according to a priority. The communication is acted upon based on the priority classification. The driver state is assessed at the conclusion of the communication. The vehicle returns to the manual driving mode if the driver state is compatible with the manual driving mode.