# US 11,029,837 B2 · System and method to alter a user interface of a self-driving vehicle in cases of perceived emergency based on accelerations of a wearable user device

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- Number: US 11,029,837 B2
- Document ID: US11029837B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/118,317
- Filed: 2018-08-30
- Published: 2020-03-05
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-30
- Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Inventors: Vinayaka Prakasha Bandishti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029837B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 35/85: Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
- G05D 1/0061: {for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa}
- G05D 1/81: Handing over between on-board automatic and on-board manual control
- G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
- B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
- B60K 2360/164: Infotainment
- B60K 2360/165: Videos and animations
- B60K 2360/175: Autonomous driving
- B60K 2360/178: Warnings
- B60K 2360/195: Blocking or enabling display functions
- B60K 2360/589: Wireless data transfers
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed preventing accidents by altering user interfaces of self-driving vehicles based on movements of passengers in the self-driving vehicles. The system and methods generate for display media content on a user interface for a self-driving vehicle and determine whether a value of movement from a wearable user device of a user within the self-driving vehicle exceeds a threshold value (indicating the maximum value at which the self-driving vehicle removes the media content on the user interface). Responsive to a determination that the value of the movement from the wearable user device exceeds the threshold value, the system and methods remove the media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for preventing an accident of a self-driving vehicle, the method comprising:
generating for display media content on a user interface for a self-driving vehicle;
detecting a wearable user device within the self-driving vehicle;
detecting an acceleration of the wearable user device;
computing an acceleration value of the wearable user device from the detected acceleration;
retrieving the current speed of the self-driving vehicle;
determining a threshold acceleration value based on the current speed of the self-driving vehicle;
determining whether the acceleration value of the wearable user device exceeds the threshold acceleration value that was determined based on the current speed of the self-driving vehicle;
in response to determining the acceleration value of the wearable user device exceeds the threshold acceleration value:
removing the media content from the user interface for the self-driving vehicle:
in response to determining the acceleration value of the wearable user device does not exceed the threshold acceleration value:
determining whether the acceleration value of the wearable user device falls within the limits of a second threshold acceleration value proximity; and
in response to determining that the acceleration value of the wearable user device falls within limits of the second threshold acceleration value proximity, altering the media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, wherein altering the media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle further comprises:
altering the user interface, from a first user interface to a second user interface, wherein the second user interface comprises a translucent user interface;
detecting a second acceleration value of the wearable user device within a third threshold acceleration value proximity; and
in response to detecting the second acceleration value of the wearable user device within the third threshold acceleration value proximity, reverting the user interface from the second user interface to the first user interface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein computing the acceleration value of the wearable user device further comprises:
monitoring (i) an acceleration rate of the wearable user device and (ii) a first position of the wearable user device relative to a reference position within the self-driving vehicle, wherein the first position is outside a threshold proximity to the reference position;
in response to determining that the monitored acceleration rate exceeds a threshold rate, determining a second position of the wearable user device relative to the reference position;
determining whether the second position is within the threshold proximity; and
in response to determining that the second position is within the threshold proximity, determining the acceleration rate from the wearable user device as the acceleration value of the wearable user device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle further comprises:
determining whether the self-driving vehicle is operating in a self-driving operating mode; and
in response to determining that the self-driving vehicle is operating in the self-driving operating mode, generating for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle further comprises:
retrieving user metadata of a user from a database based on a user profile;
determining a user specific media content asset based on the retrieved user metadata; and
generating for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, wherein the media content comprises the user specific media content asset.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein retrieving user metadata of the user from the database based on the user profile further comprises:
obtaining a user identifier of the self-driving vehicle;
matching the user identifier to the user profile; and
retrieving user metadata of the user from the database based on the user profile.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the threshold acceleration value further comprises:
retrieving user metadata of a user from a database based on a user profile, wherein the retrieved user metadata includes historical driving based metadata of the user; and
determining the threshold acceleration value based on the historical driving based metadata of the user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the threshold acceleration value further comprises:
retrieving the current location of the self-driving vehicle; and
determining the threshold acceleration value based on the current location of the self-driving vehicle, wherein the threshold acceleration value varies with location of the self-driving vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
detecting an acceleration of the wearable user device comprises receiving information from the wearable user device comprising data indicative of the acceleration value from the wearable user device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the wearable user device is performed by a guidance system, wherein the guidance system is electronically paired to the wearable user device for communicating data with the wearable user device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the acceleration of the wearable user device is determined by:
receiving, by the guidance system, movement data from the wearable device through the paired connection; and
utilizing the received movement data to calculate the acceleration value of the wearable user device.

### Claim 11

A system for preventing an accident of a self-driving vehicle, comprising:
user input circuitry; and
control circuitry configured to:
generate for display media content on a user interface for a self-driving vehicle;
detect a wearable user device within the self-driving vehicle;
detect an acceleration of the wearable user device;
compute an acceleration value of the wearable user device from the detected acceleration;
retrieve the current speed of the self-driving vehicle;
determine a threshold acceleration value for the wearable user device with respect to the self-driving vehicle based on the current speed of the self-driving vehicle;
determine whether the acceleration value of the wearable user device exceeds the threshold acceleration value of the wearable user device that was determined based on the current speed of the self-driving vehicle;
in response to determining the acceleration value of the wearable user device exceeds the threshold acceleration value, remove the media content from the user interface for the self-driving vehicle; and
in response to determining the acceleration value of the wearable user device does not exceed the threshold acceleration value, to:
determine whether the acceleration value of the wearable user device falls within limits of a second threshold acceleration value proximity; and
in response to determining that the acceleration value of the wearable user device falls within the limits of the second threshold acceleration value proximity, alter the media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, wherein, when altering the media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, to:
alter the user interface, from a first user interface to a second user interface, wherein the second user interface comprises a translucent user interface;
detect a second acceleration value of the wearable user device within a third threshold acceleration value proximity; and
in response to detecting the second acceleration value of the wearable user device within the third threshold acceleration value proximity, revert the user interface from the second user interface to the first user interface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when computing the acceleration value of the wearable user device, to:
monitor (i) an acceleration rate of the wearable user device and (ii) a first position of the wearable user device relative to a reference position within the self-driving vehicle, wherein the first position is outside a threshold proximity to the reference position;
in response to determining that the monitored acceleration rate exceeds a threshold rate, determine a second position of the wearable user device relative to the reference position;
determine whether the second position is within the threshold proximity; and
in response to determining that the second position is within the threshold proximity, determine the acceleration rate from the wearable user device as the acceleration value of the wearable user device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when generating for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, to:
determine whether the self-driving vehicle is operating in a self-driving operating mode; and
in response to determining that the self-driving vehicle is operating in the self-driving operating mode, generate for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when generating for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, to:
retrieve user metadata of a user from a database based on a user profile;
determine a user specific media content asset based on the retrieved user metadata; and
generate for display media content on the user interface for the self-driving vehicle, wherein the media content comprises the user specific media content asset.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when retrieving user metadata of the user from the database based on the user profile, to:
obtain a user identifier of the self-driving vehicle;
match the user identifier to the user profile; and
retrieve user metadata of the user from the database based on the user profile.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when determining the threshold acceleration value, to:
retrieve user metadata of a user from a database based on a user profile, wherein the retrieved user metadata includes historical driving based metadata of the user; and
determine the threshold acceleration value based on the historical driving based metadata of the user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when determining the threshold acceleration value, to:
retrieve the current location of the self-driving vehicle; and
determine the threshold acceleration value based on the current location of the self-driving vehicle, wherein the threshold acceleration value varies with location of the self-driving vehicle.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein:
the control circuitry is configured, when detecting an acceleration of the wearable user device comprises receiving information from the wearable user device comprising data indicative of the acceleration value from the wearable user device.