Patent ID: 6946966
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: A61B,B60K,B60W,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method for diagnosing a driving capability of a driver of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: ascertaining health-relevant data for the driver obtained while the driver is stationary; acquiring physiological measured values for the driver while driving in the vehicle; combining, by an expert system, the physiological measured values with the health-relevant data; ascertaining changes in a driver condition from the combined physiological measured values and health-relevant data; estimating a variable indicating a driver stress from data that is one of present and derived in the vehicle concerning an instantaneous traffic situation and an instantaneous vehicle operating state; weighting and interpreting, by the expert system, the changes in the driver condition with the variable indicating a driver stress in order to detect if the driver is in an impaired condition; and one of issuing a warning and initiating remedial actions to counteract the driver condition if the weighted and interpreted changes in the driver condition fulfill at least one predetermined criterion pertaining to the impaired condition.