Vehicle Status Notification Control by User Proximity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart vehicles often send unnecessary notifications regarding their status to users, which can be distracting and annoying, especially when the user is aware of the vehicle's condition or has it within sight.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the user's proximity and visibility to the vehicle using sensors and imaging devices, deactivating notifications when the user is nearby and aware of the vehicle's status, and activating them when the user is not in proximity or has their attention elsewhere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the vehicle sends notifications of vehicle status to the user, then the user receives vehicle information, but the user experiences unnecessary or disturbing notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors user proximity to the vehicle using sensors and imaging devices, and uses this feedback to dynamically control notification delivery. When the user is detected near the vehicle, notifications are automatically suppressed, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user context.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system changes its operational parameters based on user proximity. The key parameter being modified is the notification delivery state (active/inactive), which is adjusted according to the detected distance between the user and the vehicle, transforming a static notification system into a dynamic one.
2Reliability
If the vehicle sends frequent notifications to ensure user awareness, then information delivery is improved, but user satisfaction decreases due to redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system transitions from a static, fixed-schedule notification approach to a dynamic system that continuously adjusts its behavior based on real-time user proximity detection. The system's notification delivery parameter is made variable rather than constant, allowing it to adapt to changing user contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of user proximity before sending notifications. By using sensors and imaging devices to detect user presence in advance, the system can preemptively prevent unnecessary notifications from being sent, ensuring that only relevant notifications are delivered.
3Measurement precision
If the vehicle uses multiple detection methods (sensors, imaging devices) to determine user proximity, then notification accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging devices serve multiple functions: they capture images for user presence detection, determine user orientation toward the vehicle, and provide visual data for proximity assessment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each detection task, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple detection modalities (proximity sensors, imaging devices, facial recognition algorithms) into a unified notification control system. Rather than operating as separate independent systems, these components are merged into an integrated solution that collectively determines notification delivery, sharing processing and control resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling notification of a status of a vehicle to a user, comprising: determining whether the user is inside the vehicle; and if the user is not inside the vehicle, determining whether the user is within a predetermined threshold distance from the vehicle; wherein if the user is within the predetermined threshold distance of the vehicle, de-activating a notification of the status of the vehicle to the user; and if the user is not within the predetermined threshold distance of the vehicle, activating a notification of the status of the vehicle to the user.