US20170067747A1 - Automatic alert sent to user based on host location information - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods of coordinating the travel to a common destination by a destination coordination module. The destination coordination module can receive locations for one or more people and generate directions to the common location for each person. The destination coordination module can receive updated position information for each person and determine if a person is travelling to an incorrect destination. After determining a person is travelling to an incorrect destination, the destination coordination module can send an alert and updated directions to the common destination.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/253,144, filed Apr. 15, 2014, entitled “Automatic Alert Sent to User Based on Host Location Information”; Ser. No. 14/253,060, filed Apr. 15, 2014, entitled “Control of Vehicle Features Based on Weather and Location Data”; Ser. No. 14/252,934, filed Apr. 15, 2014, entitled “Vehicle Location-Based Home Automation Triggers”; Ser. No. 14/253,135, filed Apr. 15, 2014, entitled “Automatic Payment of Fees Based on Vehicle Location and User Detection”; and Ser. No. 14/863,257, filed Sep. 23, 2015, entitled “Configurable Dash Display Based on Detected Location and Preferences,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/253,022, filed Apr. 15, 2014, now abandoned, of the same title. Each of the foregoing applications claims the benefits of and priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/811,981, filed on Apr. 15, 2013, entitled “Functional Specification for a Next Generation Automobile”; 61/865,954, filed on Aug. 14, 2013, entitled “Gesture Control of Vehicle Features”; 61/870,698, filed on Aug. 27, 2013, entitled “Gesture Control and User Profiles Associated with Vehicle Features”; 61/891,217, filed on Oct. 15, 2013, entitled “Gesture Control and User Profiles Associated with Vehicle Features”; 61/904,205, filed on Nov. 14, 2013, entitled “Gesture Control and User Profiles Associated with Vehicle Features”; 61/924,572, filed on Jan. 7, 2014, entitled “Gesture Control and User Profiles Associated with Vehicle Features”; and 61/926,749, filed on Jan. 13, 2014, entitled “Method and System for Providing Infotainment in a Vehicle.” The entire disclosures of the applications listed above are hereby incorporated by reference, in their entirety, for all that they teach and for all purposes.
• This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/420,236, filed on Mar. 14, 2012, entitled, “Configurable Vehicle Console”; Ser. No. 13/420,240, filed on Mar. 14, 2012, entitled “Removable, Configurable Vehicle Console”; Ser. No. 13/462,593, filed on May 2, 2012, entitled “Configurable Dash Display”; Ser. No. 13/462,596, filed on May 2, 2012, entitled “Configurable Heads-Up Dash Display”; Ser. No. 13/679,459, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Vehicle Comprising Multi-Operating System” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-228); Ser. No. 13/679,234, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Gesture Recognition for On-Board Display” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-229); Ser. No. 13/679,412, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Vehicle Application Store for Console” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-230); Ser. No. 13/679,857, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Sharing Applications/Media Between Car and Phone (Hydroid)” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-231); Ser. No. 13/679,878, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “In-Cloud Connection for Car Multimedia” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-232); Ser. No. 13/679,875, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Music Streaming” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-233); Ser. No. 13/679,676, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Control of Device Features Based on Vehicle State” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-234); Ser. No. 13/678,673, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Insurance Tracking” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-235); Ser. No. 13/678,691, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Law Breaking/Behavior Sensor” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-236); Ser. No. 13/678,699, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Etiquette Suggestion” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-237); Ser. No. 13/678,710, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Parking Space Finder Based on Parking Meter Data” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-238); Ser. No. 13/678,722, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Parking Meter Expired Alert” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-239); Ser. No. 13/678,726, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Object Sensing (Pedestrian Avoidance/Accident Avoidance)” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-240); Ser. No. 13/678,735, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Proximity Warning Relative to Other Cars” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-241); Ser. No. 13/678,745, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Street Side Sensors” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-242); Ser. No. 13/678,753, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Car Location” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-243); Ser. No. 13/679,441, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Universal Bus in the Car” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-244); Ser. No. 13/679,864, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Mobile Hot Spot/Router/Application Share Site or Network” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-245); Ser. No. 13/679,815, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Universal Console Chassis for the Car” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-246); Ser. No. 13/679,476, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Vehicle Middleware” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-247); Ser. No. 13/679,306, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Method and System for Vehicle Data Collection Regarding Traffic” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-248); Ser. No. 13/679,369, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Method and System for Vehicle Data Collection” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-249); Ser. No. 13/679,680, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Communications Based on Vehicle Diagnostics and Indications” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-250); Ser. No. 13/679,443, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Method and System for Maintaining and Reporting Vehicle Occupant Information” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-251); Ser. No. 13/678,762, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Behavioral Tracking and Vehicle Applications” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-252); Ser. No. 13/679,292, filed Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Branding of Electrically Propelled Vehicles Via the Generation of Specific Operating Output” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-258); Ser. No. 13/679,400, filed Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Vehicle Climate Control” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-313); Ser. No. 13/840,240, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Improvements to Controller Area Network Bus” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-314); Ser. No. 13/678,773, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Location Information Exchange Between Vehicle and Device” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-315); Ser. No. 13/679,887, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “In Car Communication Between Devices” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-316); Ser. No. 13/679,842, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Configurable Hardware Unit for Car Systems” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-317); Ser. No. 13/679,204, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Feature Recognition for Configuring a Vehicle Console and Associated Devices” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-318); Ser. No. 13/679,350, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Configurable Vehicle Console” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-412); Ser. No. 13/679,358, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Configurable Dash Display” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-413); Ser. No. 13/679,363, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Configurable Heads-Up Dash Display” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-414); and Ser. No. 13/679,368, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, entitled “Removable, Configurable Vehicle Console” (Attorney Docket No. 6583-415). The entire disclosures of the applications listed above are hereby incorporated by reference, in their entirety, for all that they teach and for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
• Whether using private, commercial, or public transport, the movement of people and/or cargo has become a major industry. In today's interconnected world, daily travel is essential to engaging in commerce. Commuting to and from work can account for a significant portion of a traveler's day. As a result, vehicle manufacturers have begun to focus on making this commute, and other journeys, more enjoyable.
• Currently, vehicle manufacturers attempt to entice travelers to use a specific conveyance based on any number of features. Most of these features focus on vehicle safety or efficiency. From the addition of safety-restraints, air-bags, and warning systems to more efficient engines, motors, and designs, the vehicle industry has worked to appease the supposed needs of the traveler. Recently, however, vehicle manufactures have shifted their focus to user and passenger comfort as a primary concern. Making an individual more comfortable while travelling instills confidence and pleasure in using a given vehicle, increasing an individual's preference for a given manufacturer and/or vehicle type.
• One way to instill comfort in a vehicle is to create an environment within the vehicle similar to that of an individual's home. Integrating features in a vehicle that are associated with comfort found in an individual's home can ease a traveler's transition from home to vehicle. Several manufacturers have added comfort features in vehicles such as the following: leather seats, adaptive and/or personal climate control systems, music and media players, ergonomic controls, and, in some cases, Internet connectivity. However, because these manufacturers have added features to a conveyance, they have built comfort around a vehicle and failed to build a vehicle around comfort.
SUMMARY
• There is a need for a vehicle ecosystem, which can integrate both physical and mental comforts, while seamlessly communicating with current electronic devices to result in a totally intuitive and immersive user experience. These and other needs are addressed by the various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the present disclosure. Also, while the disclosure is presented in terms of exemplary and optional embodiments, it should be appreciated that individual aspects of the disclosure can be separately claimed.
• Embodiments include a method for controlling a home automation system by a vehicle control system of a vehicle, the method comprising: identifying, by a microprocessor executable home automation module, at least one occupant of a vehicle; accessing, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, an account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant, the account defining at least one home location for the identified vehicle occupant; connecting, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, to a home automation system of one of the at least one home locations; receiving, microprocessor executable home automation module, a state of features of the home automation system; retrieving, microprocessor executable home automation module, from the account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant, arrival settings for features of the home automation system; generating, microprocessor executable home automation module, commands to implement the arrival settings; and sending, microprocessor executable home automation module, the commands to the home automation system.
• Aspects of the above method include wherein the microprocessor executable home automation module sends a first set of commands to the home automation system at a first time and a second set of commands to the home automation system at a second time. Aspects of the above method include wherein the microprocessor executable home automation module sends the first set of commands to the home automation system when the vehicle is a first distance from the home location, wherein the microprocessor executable home automation module sends the second set of commands when the vehicle is a second distance from the home location, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. Aspects of the above method include wherein the first time and the second time are determined by one of the account of the at least one identified and the microprocessor executable home automation module based at least in part on the state of features of the home automation system. Aspects of the above method include wherein the microprocessor of the vehicle control system determines the first time and the second time. Aspects of the above method include wherein the settings comprise at least one of activating, deactivating, and changing a setting of at least one of an interior light, an exterior light, a security system, an interior entertainment system, an exterior entertainment system, a thermostat, and a door lock of the home automation system. Aspects of the above method include wherein the at least one identified vehicle occupant comprises a first identified vehicle occupant and a second identified vehicle occupant, and further comprising: determining, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, a conflict between at least one setting of the first identified vehicle occupant and at least one setting of the second identified vehicle occupant; determining, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, a first priority of the first identified vehicle occupant and a second priority of the second identified vehicle occupant; when the first priority is greater than the second priority, generating, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, commands to implement the at least one setting of the first identified vehicle occupant; and when the second priority is greater than the first priority, generating, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, commands to implement the at least one setting of the second identified vehicle occupant.
• Aspects of the above method include wherein when the first identified vehicle occupant is identified as a driver the first priority is greater than the second priority.
• Aspects of the method above further comprise: receiving, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, a number of occupants in the home location from the home automation system; determining, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, that the home location is occupied, wherein: during the retrieving, the microprocessor executable home automation module retrieves alternate settings from the account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant; and during the generating, the microprocessor executable home automation module generates commands to implement the alternate settings.
• Aspects of the method above further comprise: determining, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, one of an audio channel and a video channel presenting a media item to the at least one identified vehicle occupant; and during the generating, generating commands to tune an entertainment system of the home automation system to one of the audio channel and the video channel presenting the media item to the at least one identified vehicle occupant.
• Aspects of the method above further comprise determining, further comprising determining, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, that a destination of the vehicle is one of a plurality of home locations of the at least one identified vehicle occupant.
• Aspects of the method above further comprise: receiving, by the home automation system, the commands; and configuring features of the home automation system in response to receiving the commands.
• Aspects of the method above further comprise: determining, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, that the vehicle is leaving the one of the at least one home locations; connecting, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, to the home automation system of the one of the at least one home locations; receiving, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, the state of features of the home automation system; retrieving, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, from the account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant, departure settings for features of the home automation system; generating, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, commands to implement the departure settings; and sending, by the microprocessor executable home automation module, the commands to the home automation system.
• Aspects of the above method include wherein identifying the at least one vehicle occupant comprises: identifying facial features associated with the at least one vehicle occupant via at least one image sensor; determining whether the identified facial features associated with the at least one vehicle occupant match user characteristics stored in a memory; and when the identified facial features associated with the at least one vehicle occupant do not match the user characteristics stored in the memory, identifying the at least one vehicle occupant further comprises: prompting the at least one vehicle occupant for identification information; receiving identification information from the at least one vehicle occupant; and storing the identification information received from the at least one vehicle occupant in the memory. Aspects of the above method include wherein identifying the at least one vehicle occupant further comprises detecting a device associated with the at least one vehicle occupant in an area of the vehicle.
• Embodiments include a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform operations comprising the above methods. Embodiments include a device, means, and/or system configured to perform the above methods.
• Embodiments include a vehicle control system, comprising: identify at least one occupant of the vehicle; access an account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant, the account defining at least one home location for the identified vehicle occupant; connect to a home automation system of one of the at least one home locations; receive a state of features of the home automation system; retrieve, from the account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant, arrival settings for features of the home automation system; generate a first set of commands and a second set of commands to implement the arrival settings; send the first set of commands to the home automation system when the vehicle is a first distance from the home location; and send the second set of commands to the home automation system when the vehicle is a second distance from the home location, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
• Aspects of the above system include wherein the microprocessor is further operable to: identify a first vehicle occupant and a second vehicle occupant; determine a conflict between at least one setting of the first identified vehicle occupant and at least one setting of the second identified vehicle occupant; determine a first priority of the first identified vehicle occupant and a second priority of the second identified vehicle occupant; when the first priority is greater than the second priority, generate commands to implement the at least one setting of the first identified vehicle occupant; and when the second priority is greater than the first priority, generate commands to implement the at least one setting of the second identified vehicle occupant.
• Aspects of the above system include wherein the microprocessor sends a first set of commands to the home automation system at a first time and a second set of commands to the home automation system at a second time. Aspects of the above system include wherein the microprocessor sends the first set of commands to the home automation system when the vehicle is a first distance from the home location, wherein the microprocessor sends the second set of commands when the vehicle is a second distance from the home location, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. Aspects of the above system include wherein the account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant defines the first time and the second time. Aspects of the above system include wherein the microprocessor of the vehicle control system determines the first time and the second time. Aspects of the above system include wherein the settings comprise at least one of activating, deactivating, and changing a setting of at least one of an interior light, an exterior light, a security system, an interior entertainment system, an exterior entertainment system, a thermostat, and a door lock of the home automation system. Aspects of the above system include wherein the at least one identified vehicle occupant comprises a first identified vehicle occupant and a second identified vehicle occupant, and further the microprocessor further operable to: determine a conflict between at least one setting of the first identified vehicle occupant and at least one setting of the second identified vehicle occupant; determine a first priority of the first identified vehicle occupant and a second priority of the second identified vehicle occupant; when the first priority is greater than the second priority, generate commands to implement the at least one setting of the first identified vehicle occupant; and when the second priority is greater than the first priority, generate, commands to implement the at least one setting of the second identified vehicle occupant. Aspects of the above system include wherein when the first identified vehicle occupant is identified as a driver the first priority is greater than the second priority.
• Aspects of the system above further comprise the microprocessor operable to: receive a number of occupants in the home location from the home automation system; determine that the home location is occupied, wherein during the retrieving, the microprocessor retrieves alternate settings from the account of the at least one identified vehicle occupant; and during the generating, the microprocessor generates commands to implement the alternate settings.
• Aspects of the system above further comprise the microprocessor operable to: determine one of an audio channel and a video channel presenting a media item to the at least one identified vehicle occupant; and during the generating, generate commands to tune an entertainment system of the home automation system to one of the audio channel and the video channel presenting the media item to the at least one identified vehicle occupant.
• Aspects of the system above further comprise the microprocessor operable to: determine that a destination of the vehicle is one of a plurality of home locations of the at least one identified vehicle occupant.

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