Wearable Device Vehicle Detection Role
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to accurately detect whether a user is in a vehicle and, if so, determine whether they are the driver or a passenger, limiting the ability to provide relevant information and experiences.
Innovation Solution
A wearable wireless device connects to a smartphone or tablet and uses vehicle detection algorithms to establish a connection with a vehicle kit device, determining the user's role by monitoring connection status and profiles, and initiating driver or passenger modes to provide context-specific information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current vehicle systems provide information to users, then users can access some information, but the system cannot accurately detect whether a user is in a vehicle or determine their role as driver or passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wearable device as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the user and the vehicle system. The wearable device detects connection status with the vehicle's hands-free system and relays this information to a smartphone, which then determines vehicle context. This intermediary approach enables accurate detection of vehicle presence and user role without requiring complex sensors or cameras inside the vehicle, thereby improving measurement precision while avoiding excessive system complexity.
2Reliability
If the system monitors connection status to detect vehicle context, then accurate detection of user role is achieved, but the system requires multiple wireless devices and connection protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal connectivity capabilities of modern smartphones and wearable devices, which already support multiple wireless protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) for various purposes. By repurposing these existing multi-functional devices for vehicle detection, the system achieves reliable detection without adding dedicated single-purpose devices. The smartphone's existing ability to connect to hands-free systems, paired with the wearable's connection monitoring, provides reliable vehicle context detection while avoiding the need for specialized complex hardware.
3Speed
If the wearable device continuously monitors connection status, then real-time vehicle detection is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic connection status monitoring instead of continuous monitoring. The wearable device checks for connections to the vehicle's hands-free system at regular intervals, which provides timely detection of vehicle entry/exit and role changes while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring. This periodic approach maintains real-time detection capability for practical purposes while being energy-efficient enough for battery-powered wearable devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a method of executing a vehicle detection application at a first wireless device associated with a user, the method including: determining whether a second wireless device that is associated with the user is communicatively connected to a vehicle, wherein the second wireless device is distinct from the first wireless device; in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is connected to the vehicle, causing at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a driver mode configured for exchanging information between a driver and the vehicle; and in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is not connected to the vehicle, detecting that the first wireless device operates in proximity to the vehicle, and preventing the first and second wireless devices from operating in the driver mode. There is also described a corresponding first wireless device in the form of a wearable wireless device, and a corresponding non-transitory computer readable medium.