Abstract:
A system includes a vehicle, a vehicle network disposed within the vehicle, and at least one earpiece for use within the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one wireless earpiece within the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to wirelessly communication with at least one wireless earpiece within a separate and independent vehicle. A method includes sensing data with a sensor of a wireless earpiece within a first vehicle to provide sensed data, determining by the wireless earpiece within the first vehicle an alert condition based on the sensed data, and wirelessly communicating a message from a wireless earpiece within a first vehicle to a wireless ear piece within a second vehicle, the message indicating occurrence of the alert condition.

Description:
PRIORITY STATEMENT 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/260,447, filed on Nov. 27, 2015, and entitled Vehicle to vehicle communications using ear pieces, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to wearable devices. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to ear pieces used within vehicles for vehicle to vehicle communications. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Vehicles may come with various types of electronics packages. These packages may be standard or optional and include electronics associated with communications, navigation, or entertainment. However, there are various problems and deficiencies with such offerings. What is needed are vehicles with improved electronics options which create, improve, or enhance safety or overall experience of vehicles. In particular, what is needed are vehicles which integrate with wearable devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art. 
         [0005]    It is another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to communicate between vehicle systems and wearable devices. 
         [0006]    It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to use wearable devices within vehicles and to provide enhanced vehicle functionality. 
         [0007]    It is another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to collect information from a vehicle and to communicate to a wearable device such as an earpiece. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect a system includes a vehicle, a vehicle network disposed within the vehicle, and at least one earpiece for use within the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to wirelessly communicate with and receive sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece within the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to receive sensor data from at least one wireless earpiece within a separate and independent vehicle. The vehicle may be configured to receive sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece within the vehicle and/or the at least one wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle and perform a vehicle operation based on the sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece within the vehicle and/or the at least one wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle. The sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle may be communicated between the vehicle network of the vehicle and a vehicle network of the separate and independent vehicle. The sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle may be communicated to the at least one wireless earpiece within the vehicle and from the at least one wireless earpiece within the vehicle to the vehicle network of the vehicle. The at least one earpiece for use within the vehicle may include an inertial sensor and may be used to determine a warning condition based on sensed data from the inertial sensor. The vehicle network may be configured to electronically send a warning message to the wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle. The vehicle network may be configured to electronically receive a warning message from the wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle. The at least one earpiece may include a health monitoring sensor and may be configured to determine a warning condition based on sensed data from the health monitoring data. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect a method includes sensing data with a sensor of a wireless earpiece within a first vehicle to provide sensed data, determining by the wireless earpiece within the first vehicle an alert condition based on the sensed data, and wirelessly communicating a message from a wireless earpiece within the first vehicle to a wireless ear piece within a second vehicle, the message indicating occurrence of the alert condition. The sensor may be an inertial sensor and the sensed data may include inertial data. The sensor may be a physiological sensor and the sensed data may be physiological data. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect, a method includes sensing data with a sensor of a wireless earpiece within a first vehicle to provide sensed data, determining by the wireless earpiece within the first vehicle an alert condition based on the sensed data, and wirelessly communicating a message from a wireless earpiece within a first vehicle to a second vehicle, the message indicating occurrence of the alert condition. The sensor may be an inertial sensor and the sensed data may be inertial data. The sensor may be a physiological sensor and the sensed data may be physiological data. 
         [0011]    One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to or by an objects, features, or advantages stated herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of use of a wearable device in conjunction with a vehicle. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a wearable device in the form of a set of ear pieces. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a system which includes ear pieces in communication with a vehicle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a wearable device in communication with an entertainment system, navigation system and other systems having displays. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a pair of ear piece wearable devices associated with an occupant of a first vehicle in operative communication with a pair of ear piece wearable devices associated with an occupant of a second vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Some of the most important factors in selecting a vehicle such as a car may be the technology available to enhance the experience. This may be of particular importance in certain vehicle segments such as for luxury vehicles. Another important factor in selecting a vehicle may be the available safety features. According to various aspects, the present invention allows for wearable devices including ear pieces to enhance the experience of vehicles and according to some aspects, the present invention allows for wearable devices such as earpieces to enhance the overall safety of the vehicle. Therefore, it is expected that the technology described herein will make any vehicle so equipped more desirable to customers, more satisfying to customers, and potentially more profitable for the vehicle manufacturer. Similarly at least some of the various aspects may be added to existing vehicles as after-market accessories to improve the safety or experience of existing vehicles. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of use of a wearable device in conjunction with a vehicle. As shown in  FIG. 1  there is a vehicle  2 . Although the vehicle shown is a full-size sedan, it is contemplated that the vehicle may be of any number of types of cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans, mini-vans, automotive vehicles, commercial vehicles, agricultural vehicles, construction vehicles, specialty vehicles, recreational vehicles, buses, motorcycles, aircraft, boats, ships, yachts, spacecraft, or other types of vehicles. The vehicle may be gas-powered, diesel powered, electric, solar-powered, or human-powered. The vehicle may be actively operated by a driver or may be partially or completely autonomous or self-driving. The vehicle  2  may have a vehicle control system  40 . The vehicle control system  40  is a system which may include any number of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical subsystems. As shown in  FIG. 1 , such systems may include a navigation system  42 , a climate control system  43 , an entertainment system  44 , a vehicle security system  45 , an audio system  46 , a safety system  47 , a communications system  48  preferably with a wireless transceiver, a driver assistance system  49 , a passenger comfort system  50 , and an engine/transmission, chassis electronics system(s)  51 . Of course, other examples of vehicle control sub-systems are contemplated. In addition, it is to be understood that there may be overlap between some of these different vehicle systems and the presence or absence of these vehicle systems as well as other vehicle systems may depend upon the type of vehicle, the type of fuel or propulsion system, the size of the vehicle, and other factors and variables. In the automotive context, examples of the driver assistance system  49  may include one or more subsystems such as a lane assist system, a speed assist system, a blind spot detection system, a park assist system, and an adaptive cruise control system. In the automotive context, examples of the passenger comfort system  50  may include one or more subsystems such as automatic climate control, electronic seat adjustment, automatic wipers, automatic headlamps, and automatic cooling. In the automotive context, examples of the safety system  47  may include active safety systems such as air bags, hill descent control, and an emergency brake assist system. Aspects of the navigation system  42 , the entertainment system  44 , the audio system  46 , and the communications system  48  may be combined into an infotainment system. 
         [0020]    One or more wearable devices such as a set of earpieces  10  including a left earpiece  12 A and a right earpiece  12 B may be in operative communication with the vehicle control system  40  such as through the communication system  48 . For example, the communication system  48  may provide a Bluetooth or BLE link or Wi-Fi link to wearable devices or may otherwise provide for radio communications or other types of communications with the wearable devices. Preferably the communications are wireless communications. The vehicle  2  may communicate with the wearable device(s) directly, or alternatively, or in addition, the vehicle  2  may communicate with the wearable device(s) through an intermediary device such as a mobile device  4  which may be a mobile phone, a tablet, or other type of mobile device or computing device. 
         [0021]    As will be explained in further detail with respect to various examples, the wearable device(s)  10  interact with the vehicle control system  40  in any number of different ways. For example, the wearable device(s)  10  may provide sensor data, identity information, stored information, streamed information, or other types of information to the vehicle. Based on this information, the vehicle may take any number of actions which may include one or more actions taken by the vehicle control system (or subsystems thereof). In addition, the vehicle  2  may communicate sensor data, identity information, stored information, streamed information or other types of information to the wearable device(s)  10 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates one example of a wearable device in the form of a set of ear pieces  10  in greater detail.  FIG. 1  illustrates a set of earpiece wearables  10  which includes a left earpiece  12 A and a right earpiece  12 B. Each of the earpieces wearables  12 A,  12 B has an earpiece wearable housing  14 A,  14 B which may be in the form of a protective shell or casing and may be an in-the-ear earpiece housing. A left infrared through ultraviolet spectrometer  16 A and right infrared through ultraviolet spectrometer  16 B are also shown. Each earpiece  12 A,  12 B may include one or more microphones  70 A,  70 B. Note that the air microphones  70 A,  70 B are outward facing such that the air microphones  70 A,  70 B may capture ambient environmental sound. It is to be understood that any number of microphones may be present including air conduction microphones, bone conduction microphones, or other audio sensors. There may be a corona  20 A,  20 B for each ear piece  12 A,  12 B which provides for lighting such as providing a light tube or light guide. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a device. The device may include one or more LEDs  20  electrically connected to an intelligent control system  30 . The intelligent control system  30  may include one or more processors, digital signal processors, audio processors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits, or other types of integrated circuits. The intelligent control system  30  may also be electrically connected to one or more sensors  32 . Where the device is an earpiece, the sensor(s) may include inertial sensors  74 ,  76 . Each inertial sensor  74 ,  76  may include an accelerometer, a gyro sensor or gyrometer, a magnetometer, a digital compass, or other type of inertial sensor. The sensor(s)  32  may also include one or more contact sensors  72  used to determine contact between a user and the earpiece, one or more bone conduction microphones  71 , one or more air conduction microphones  70 , one or more chemical sensors  79 , a pulse oximeter  76 , a temperature sensor  80 , or other physiological or biological sensor(s). Further examples of physiological or biological sensors include an alcohol sensor  83 , glucose sensor  85 , or bilirubin sensor  87 . Other examples of physiological or biological sensors may also be included in the device. These may include a blood pressure sensor  82 , an electroencephalogram (EEG)  84 , an Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) sensor, a lactic acid sensor  88 , a hemoglobin sensor  90 , a hematocrit sensor  92  or other biological or chemical sensor. 
         [0024]    A spectrometer  16  is also shown. The spectrometer  16  may be an infrared (IR) through ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer although it is contemplated that any number of wavelengths in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet spectrums may be detected. The spectrometer  16  is preferably adapted to measure environmental wavelengths for analysis and recommendations and thus preferably is located on or at the external facing side of the device. 
         [0025]    A gesture control interface  36  is also operatively connected to or integrated into the intelligent control system  30 . The gesture control interface  36  may include one or more emitters  82  and one or more detectors  84  for sensing user gestures. The emitters may be of any number of types including infrared LEDs. The device may include a transceiver  35  which may allow for induction transmissions such as through near field magnetic induction. A short range transceiver  34  using Bluetooth, BLE, UWB, or other means of radio communication may also be present. The short range transceiver  34  may be used to communicate with the vehicle control system. In operation, the intelligent control system  30  may be configured to convey different information using one or more of the LED(s)  20  based on context or mode of operation of the device. The various sensors  32 , the intelligent control system  30 , and other electronic components may be located on the printed circuit board of the device. One or more speakers  73  may also be operatively connected to the intelligent control system  30 . 
         [0026]    An electromagnetic (E/M) field transceiver  37  or other type of receiver is also operatively connected to the intelligent control system  30  to link the intelligent control system  30  to the electromagnetic field of the user. The use of the E/M transceiver  37  allows the device to link electromagnetically into a personal area network or body area network or other device. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates another example of one or more wearable ear pieces  12 A,  12 B in operative communication with a vehicle. In  FIG. 4 , a vehicle network  100  is shown. According to one aspect, the wearable devices  12 A,  12 B may communicate information through a vehicle network  100  associated with a vehicle  2 . Data, instructions, input, commands, files, or audio streams may be communicated over the vehicle network  100  or vehicle bus to and from the wearable devices  12 A,  12 B. Protocols which are used may include a Controller Area Network (CAN), Local Interconnect Network (LIN), or others including proprietary network protocols or network protocol overlays. 
         [0028]    Various types of electronic control modules  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  or electronic control units may communicate over the network  100  of the vehicle. These may include electronic modules such as an engine control unit (ECU), a transmission control unit (TCU), an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a body control module (BCM), a door control unit (DCU), an electric power steering control unit (PSCU), a human-machine interface (HMI), powertrain control module (PCM), speed control unit (SCU), telematic control unit (TCU), brake control unit (BCM), battery management system, entertainment system and numerous others. Any number of electronic control modules may be operatively connected to the vehicle network  100 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment a wireless transceiver module  110  is operatively connected to a vehicle network  100  and it is the wireless transceiver module  110  which is in operative communication with one or more wearable devices such as wearable ear piece  12 A,  12 B. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , one or more wearable devices  12  (including one or more ear pieces from one or more different vehicle occupants) may communicate with a navigation system  120  of a vehicle, an entertainment system  122 , or an autonomous control system  124 . Although the communication may be performed directly between the navigation system  120 , entertainment system  122 , or autonomous control system  124  and the and one or more ear pieces  12 , in one embodiment a wireless transceiver module  110  may be operatively connected to the wearable ear piece  12  after the transceiver module  110  connects with or forms a wireless linkage with one or more of the wearable ear pieces  12 . The wireless transceiver module  110  may use any number of different types of communications and protocols including Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi, or otherwise. 
         [0031]    According to another aspect, one or more wearable devices may provide for health monitoring of an individual such as a driver or passenger of the vehicle. The wearable devices may have any number of different sensors which may be used for monitoring the health of an individual or other physical parameters of an individual. Examples of sensors may include one or more inertial sensors such as an accelerometer, a gyro sensor or gyrometer, a magnetometer or other type of inertial sensor. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sensor(s)  32  may also include one or more contact sensors  72 , one or more bone conduction microphones  71 , one or more air conduction microphones  70 , one or more chemical sensors  79 , a pulse oximeter  78 , a temperature sensor  80 , or other physiological or biological sensor(s). Further examples of physiological or biological sensors include an alcohol sensor  83 , glucose sensor  85 , or bilirubin sensor  87 . Other examples of physiological or biological sensors may also be included in the device. These may include a blood pressure sensor  82 , an electroencephalogram (EEG)  84 , an Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) sensor, a lactic acid sensor  88 , a hemoglobin sensor  90 , a hematocrit sensor  92  or other biological or chemical sensor. Data associated with the health monitoring may be displayed on one or more vehicle displays of the vehicle. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates a first vehicle  2 A and a second vehicle  2 B. There is a set of ear pieces  10 A associated with the first vehicle  2 A such as may be worn by a driver of the first vehicle  2 A or other occupant of the first vehicle  2 A. There is a set of ear pieces  10 B associated with the second vehicle  2 B such as may be worn by a driver of the second vehicle  2 B or other occupant of the second vehicle  2 B. There are several different communication scenarios shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]    In one example, the vehicle  2 A is in operative communication with earpieces  10 B worn by a driver of the vehicle  2 B. In this example, inertial sensors in the ear pieces  10 B may detect a sudden change in movement such as that associated with hard braking. In this instance an alert may be communicated to the vehicle  2 A to warn the vehicle  2 A that the vehicle in front of vehicle  2 A, namely vehicle  2 B is braking. The vehicle  2 A may then perform any number of different actions or vehicle operations in response to this alert. The actions taken by vehicle  2 A may depend upon whether vehicle  2 A is a self-driving/autonomous vehicle in a self-driving mode or whether vehicle  2 A is being operated by a driver. If vehicle  2 A is being operated by a driver, vehicle  2 A may alert the driver of a possible dangerous condition through making a warning sound, providing a visual indicator, or otherwise alerting the driver. If vehicle  2 A is operating autonomously, or semi-autonomously, the vehicle may brake, change lanes, perform an analysis based on this data in addition to any other information the vehicle has acquired, or perform other vehicle operations. Alternatively, even if the vehicle is being operated by a driver, the vehicle may brake, change lanes, perform an analysis, or other vehicle operations. 
         [0034]    In another example, the ear pieces  10 A are in operative communication with the ear pieces  10 B. In this example, an alert may be communicated from ear pieces  10 B to ear pieces  10 A for the benefit of the driver of vehicle  2 A which is wearing the ear pieces  10  OA. This may be an audio alert or other type of alert to warn the driver of vehicle  2 A of sudden movement associated with vehicle  2 B. 
         [0035]    Thus alert conditions may occur based on sensed data from one or more inertial sensors. Alert conditions may also occur based on driver or occupant health. Thus, for example if one or more of the physiological sensors detect an issue with a driver of a vehicle, an alert may be communicated to the second vehicle or to earpieces worn by a driver of the second vehicle. Thus, vehicle safety may be improved by providing advanced warning or supplemental warning of sudden changes in one vehicle to a second vehicle or a driver of the second vehicle. 
         [0036]    The vehicle  2 A may be configured to receive sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece  10 A within the vehicle  2 A and/or the at least one wireless earpiece  10 B within the separate and independent vehicle  2 B and perform a vehicle operation based on the sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece  10 A within the vehicle and/or the at least one wireless earpiece within the separate and independent vehicle  10 B. The sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece  10 B within the separate and independent vehicle  2 B may be communicated between the vehicle network of the vehicle  2 A and a vehicle network of the separate and independent vehicle  2 B. The sensor data from the at least one wireless earpiece  10 B within the separate and independent vehicle  2 B may be communicated to the at least one wireless earpiece  10 A within the vehicle  2 A and from the at least one wireless earpiece  10 A within the vehicle  2 A to the vehicle network of the vehicle  2 A. 
         [0037]    Various methods, system, and apparatus have been shown and described relating to vehicles with wearable integration or communication. The present invention is not to be limited to these specific examples but contemplates any number of related methods, system, and apparatus and these examples may vary based on the specific type of vehicle, the specific type of wearable device, and other considerations.