# US 2017/0254646 A1 · Systems and methods for directing a vision-impaired user to a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254646 A1 - Document ID: US20170254646A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/060,015 - Filed: 2016-03-03 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-03 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher P. Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254646A1 ## CPC - A61H 3/061: {with electronic detecting or guiding means} - H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management - G01C 21/20: Instruments for performing navigational calculations (G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence) - G01C 21/34: Route searching; Route guidance - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/024: Guidance services - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - A61H 2003/063: {with tactile perception} - A61H 2201/0153: hand-held - A61H 2201/1635: Hand or arm, e.g. handle - A61H 2201/5012: using the internet - A61H 2201/5048: Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled - A61H 2201/5097: wireless - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) ## Abstract Systems and methods for directing a vision-impaired user to a vehicle are disclosed. One embodiment of a system includes a vision-assist apparatus that includes an output device for communicating data that is perceptible by a vision-impaired user and a computing device that is coupled to the output device. The computing device may include a processor and memory that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the vision-assist apparatus to receive an indication that the vehicle has arrived at a predetermined location, receive, from the vehicle computing device, a specific real-time position of the vehicle in the predetermined location, and determine a route to direct the vision-impaired user to the specific real-time position. In some embodiments, the logic further causes the vision-assist apparatus to provide instructions to traverse the route to the specific real-time position for output by the output device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for directing a vision-impaired user to a vehicle comprising: a vision-assist apparatus that includes an output device for communicating data that is perceptible by the vision-impaired user and a computing device that is coupled to the output device, the computing device comprising a processor and memory that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the vision-assist apparatus to perform at least the following: receive an indication that the vehicle has arrived at a predetermined location, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle computing device; receive, from the vehicle computing device, a specific real-time position of the vehicle in the predetermined location; determine a route to direct the vision-impaired user to the specific real-time position; and provide instructions to traverse the route to the specific real-time position for output by the output device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following: determine an obstacle on the route; and reroute the vision-impaired user to avoid the obstacle and direct the vision-impaired user to the specific real-time position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following: receive a communication from the vehicle computing device indicating a change of position of the vehicle; and reroute the vision-impaired user to accommodate the change of position and reach the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a user computing device, wherein the user computing device sends the request for the vehicle to the predetermined location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following: determine whether the vision-impaired user can reach the vehicle; and in response to determining that the vision-impaired user cannot reach the vehicle, send a request for the vehicle to change position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the output device includes at least one of the following: a tactile output device and a speaker. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a camera, wherein the camera receives environmental data along the route and provides an additional instruction, based on the environmental data. ### Claim 8 A method for directing a vision-impaired user to a vehicle comprising: receiving a request for the vehicle to arrive at a predetermined location, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle computing device; receiving an indication that the vehicle has arrived at the predetermined location; receiving a specific real-time position of the vehicle in the predetermined location; determining a route to direct the vision-impaired user to the specific real-time position; determining an obstacle along the route; creating a revised route to avoid the obstacle; and providing instructions to traverse the revised route to the specific real-time position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising sending the request for the vehicle to the predetermined location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a communication indicating a change of position for the vehicle; and rerouting the vision-impaired user to accommodate the change of position and reach the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining whether the vision-impaired user can reach the vehicle along the route; and in response to determining that the vision-impaired user cannot reach the vehicle, sending a request for the vehicle to change position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving environmental data along the route; and providing an additional instruction, based on the environmental data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising sending a location of the vision-impaired user to the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing additional instructions for the vision-impaired user to enter the vehicle. ### Claim 15 A system for directing a vision-impaired user to a vehicle comprising: an output device for communicating data that is perceptible by a vision impaired user; and a computing device that is coupled to the output device, the computing device comprising a processor and memory that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to perform at least the following: receive an indication that the vehicle has arrived at a predetermined location; receive a specific real-time position of the vehicle in the predetermined location from a vehicle computing device of the vehicle; determine a route to direct the vision-impaired user to the specific real-time position; provide a first instruction for the vision-impaired user to traverse the route to the specific real-time position for output by the output device; determine a change of position of the vehicle; and provide a second instruction for the vision-impaired user to reach the vehicle, according to the change of position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following: determine an obstacle on the route; and reroute the vision-impaired user to avoid the obstacle and direct the vision-impaired user to the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the logic further causes the system to perform at least the following: determine whether the vision-impaired user can reach the vehicle; and in response to determining that the vision-impaired user cannot reach the vehicle, send a request for the vehicle to change position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the output device includes at least one of the following: a tactile output device and a speaker. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising a camera, wherein the camera receives environmental data along the route and provides an additional instruction, based on the environmental data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide instructions for the vision-impaired user to enter the vehicle.