Method and apparatus for generating notification of changed conditions behind a vehicle

A computer-implemented method for conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:

• gathering first information about first rearward conditions;
• recognizing that the vehicle is in reverse;
• gathering second information about second rearward conditions, wherein gathering second information about second rearward conditions occurs after gathering first information about first rearward conditions;
• creating a first archetype from first information about first rearward conditions;
• creating a second archetype from second information about second rearward conditions;
• comparing the first and second archetypes to determine differences between first rearward conditions and second rearward conditions behind the vehicle;
• and
• generating a notification conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle upon determining that the differences resemble a third archetype stored in a database.

A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is provided program instructions for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the computer program product comprising:

• computer code for gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
• computer code for gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
• computer code for comparing the first information and the second information to determine a plurality of differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
• computer code for determining whether the plurality of differences meet a notification criterion, wherein determining whether the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion comprises combining the plurality of differences with a plurality of weighting factors to derive a composite difference;
• and
• computer code for generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion.