US 12,576,878 B2 · Autonomous vehicle traffic management

Abstract

In an approach to autonomous vehicle traffic management, one or more computer processors retrieve an identification associated with a first autonomous vehicle. One or more computer processors retrieve a distance rule corresponding to the first autonomous vehicle from a smart contract, wherein the distance rule is a rule for a minimum distance that other autonomous vehicles must maintain with respect to the first autonomous vehicle. One or more computer processors determine a context of the first autonomous vehicle. Based on the context of the first autonomous vehicle, one or more computer processors determine whether a first exception to the distance rule is required. One or more computer processors generate the first exception to the distance rule. One or more computer processors communicate the distance rule and the first exception to the distance rule to one or more additional autonomous vehicles traveling in proximity to the first autonomous vehicle.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

retrieving, by one or more computer processors, a distance rule corresponding to a first autonomous vehicle from a smart contract, wherein the distance rule is a rule for a minimum distance that a second autonomous vehicle must maintain when traveling in proximity to the first autonomous vehicle;
determining, by one or more computer processors, based on detected emissions from an exhaust system of the first autonomous vehicle, that a first exception to the distance rule is required, wherein the first exception to the distance rule increases the minimum distance that the second autonomous vehicle must maintain behind the first autonomous vehicle from one car-length to two car-lengths;
and
communicating, by one or more computer processors, the distance rule and the first exception to the distance rule to the second autonomous vehicle in response to determining that the second autonomous vehicle is within a threshold distance of the first autonomous vehicle, wherein the communication causes the second autonomous vehicle to drive itself according to the first exception to the distance rule corresponding to the first autonomous vehicle.

1 more element

A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media;
program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media, to retrieve a distance rule corresponding to a first autonomous vehicle from a smart contract, wherein the distance rule is a rule for a minimum distance that a second autonomous vehicle must maintain when travelling in proximity to the first autonomous vehicle;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media, to determine, based on detected emissions from an exhaust system of the first autonomous vehicle, that a first exception to the distance rule is required, wherein the first exception to the distance rule increases the minimum distance that the second autonomous vehicle must maintain behind the first autonomous vehicle from one car-length to two car-lengths;
and
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media, to communicate the distance rule and the first exception to the distance rule to the second autonomous vehicle in response to determining that the second autonomous vehicle is within a threshold distance of the first autonomous vehicle, wherein the communication causes the second autonomous vehicle to drive itself according to the first exception to the distance rule corresponding to the first autonomous vehicle.

2 more elements

A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;
one or more computer-readable memories;
and
one or more computer-readable storage media;
program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to retrieve a distance rule corresponding to a first autonomous vehicle from a smart contract, wherein the distance rule is a rule for a minimum distance that a second autonomous vehicle must maintain when travelling in proximity to the first autonomous vehicle;
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to determine, based on detected emissions from an exhaust system of the first autonomous vehicle, that a first exception to the distance rule is required, wherein the first exception to the distance rule increases the minimum distance that the second autonomous vehicle must maintain behind the first autonomous vehicle from one car-length to two car-lengths;
and
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to communicate the distance rule and the first exception to the distance rule to the second autonomous vehicle in response to determining that the second autonomous vehicle is within a threshold distance of the first autonomous vehicle, wherein the communication causes the second autonomous vehicle to drive itself according to the first exception to the distance rule corresponding to the first autonomous vehicle.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Autonomous vehicle traffic management

Life of this patent

Autonomous vehicle traffic management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18