Abstract:
Some embodiments are directed to hierarchical based computer implemented methods and systems for controlling predetermined vehicle operations upon receiving requests from vehicle occupants. The methods and systems include identifying vehicle occupants regardless of their location within the vehicle, and matching an identified vehicle occupant who has entered a request with one profile of a hierarchy of stored profiles. Each profile can correspond to at least one of the occupants who has been identified, and provides authorization to control certain of the predetermined operations. The methods and systems also include accepting the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile provides authorization to control the requested operation, rejecting the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile does not provide authorization to control the requested operation, and enabling implementation of the requested operation if the request has been accepted based on the matched profile providing authorization.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The disclosed subject matter relates to hierarchical based vehicular control systems, and methods of use and manufacture thereof. In particular, the disclosed subject matter relates to such systems and methods that are usable for controlling, or assisting the control of, semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles (e.g., automobiles, trucks, ships, etc.). 
         [0002]    Traditional manually operated vehicles that travel along predetermined routes (such as on highways, roads, streets, paths, etc.) or along other routes of travel (such as in the air, water, space, etc.) are controlled by a vehicle occupant typically designated as the driver or primary operator. These manually operated vehicles often include a designated driver&#39;s position for occupation by the intended driver or primary operator. For example, traditional automobiles include a driver&#39;s seat, airplanes have a cockpit with a pilot&#39;s seat, etc., that serve as the designated driver&#39;s position. 
         [0003]    Various controls that are relevant to affecting aspects of the vehicle&#39;s operation, controls irrelevant to the vehicle&#39;s operation, and indicators that provide relevant or helpful information (such as speed, mileage, fuel supply, etc.) can be disposed at locations that are accessible from the intended driver&#39;s position. These controls and indicators are typically disposed and otherwise designed to facilitate operation by the designated driver. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    However, it may be beneficial to provide vehicle occupants other than the driver with the ability to have access to some or all of the controls, indicators, etc. described above, including those disposed or otherwise designed to facilitate use by the driver (such as controls for the HVAC system, radio, etc.). For example, an automobile passenger seated in the front passenger seat may have access to some or all of the controls, indicators, etc. that are primarily intended for the driver. In addition, controls, indicators, etc. may be provided and disposed specifically for use by vehicle occupants other than the driver. In fact, control opportunities and options for accessing information (such as via entertainment systems, GPS devices, etc.) by passengers and drivers have increased as vehicles have become more advanced. 
         [0005]    These opportunities and options are further enhanced in the context of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles. For example, additional controls and indicators may be utilized to operate or access semi-autonomous and autonomous features of these vehicles, such as user interfaces to set destinations or otherwise operate as desired, etc. 
         [0006]    The nature of these types of vehicles also enables a reshuffling of passenger locations because the intended driver or primary operator may not necessarily be disposed at a location corresponding to the traditional intended driver&#39;s position. In other words, there is no intended driver in the context of an autonomous vehicle in automated driving mode in the sense that an autonomous vehicle drives itself. The intended driver or primary operator may have a less active role than in a manually operated vehicle. The autonomous nature of such vehicles inherently provides the flexibility to enable all occupants to occupy any location within the vehicle, and thus the vehicle owner or driver may not necessarily occupy the traditional driver&#39;s position. In other words, an autonomous vehicle to some extent drives itself using an automated control system, thereby enabling the primary operator or driver to sit anywhere within the vehicle. 
         [0007]    It may therefore be beneficial to provide vehicle control systems that take into account this flexibility in seating arrangements enabled by semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles, such as by providing user inputs that are operable from any of multiple locations that may be occupied by the primary operator. For example, user inputs can be provided at each passenger location within the vehicle to enable the primary operator to thereby control the vehicle from any location. Alternatively, centralized controls can be provided that enable access from any location within the vehicle. 
         [0008]    These dispersed and centralized user inputs may enable any of the passengers to affect vehicle operations or access information. Thus, providing this flexibility may create situations where anyone within the vehicle can control various aspects of the vehicle or access certain information, regardless of whether the primary operator agrees or otherwise authorizes such control or access. It may therefore be beneficial to provide methods and systems for preventing certain vehicle occupants from performing unauthorized control operations and accessing unauthorized information. 
         [0009]    In some of these cases, it may be beneficial to designate a vehicle occupant as having primary responsibility for operating certain vehicular controls that may or may not be directly related to driving the vehicle. The primary occupant or owner of a semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle can have ultimate authority over all functions of the vehicle, such as providing instructions to a vehicle control system to start the engine, control the path of travel, etc. Occupants other than the primary owner in this context can have lower levels of responsibility or authority to control various aspects of the vehicle. However, the primary owner may provide administrative rights to an occupant having a lower level of authority than the primary owner to enable that occupant to control certain aspects of the vehicle. 
         [0010]    It may therefore be advantageous to determine an occupant&#39;s level of authority to exercise some level of control over the vehicle&#39;s operation based on information other than the occupant&#39;s location within the vehicle. This determination can be useful for various reasons, such as to determine whether a certain occupant has the authority to operate certain vehicular controls, and in the case of the primary owner, to enable easy access to the vehicular controls, such as by redirecting control inputs. 
         [0011]    This determination can include ranking each vehicle occupant based upon a hierarchical level of authority, with the vehicle&#39;s primary owner at the top of the hierarchy. Any type of hierarchical factors can be chosen by the primary owner to rank other occupants. Authorization to control various aspects of the vehicle can be determined based upon this ranking, and control can be implemented using a request (i.e., command) approval process. 
         [0012]    Some embodiments are therefore directed to a hierarchical based vehicular control system for enabling vehicle occupants to control predetermined authorized operations. The system can be configured for use with a vehicle that defines multiple distinct locations that may each be occupied by one of the vehicle occupants. The system can include a sensor for enabling identification of the vehicle occupants regardless of their location within the vehicle, and a user input configured to enable the vehicle occupants to enter a request to control one of the predetermined operations. 
         [0013]    The system can also include a processor based controller programmed to create and store a hierarchy of profiles. Each profile can correspond to at least one of the occupants who has been identified and provided authorization to control certain of the predetermined operations. The hierarchy of profiles can include a high ranking profile providing authorization to control more of the predetermined operations than a lower ranked profile. The controller can be programmed to: match an identified vehicle occupant who has entered a request with one of the stored profiles, accept the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile provides authorization to control the requested operation, reject the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile does not provide authorization to control the requested operation, and enable implementation of the requested operation if the request has been accepted based on the matched profile providing authorization. 
         [0014]    Some other embodiments are directed to a processor based controller for use with a hierarchical based vehicle control system for enabling vehicle occupants to control predetermined authorized operations. The system can be configured for use with a vehicle that defines multiple distinct locations that may each be occupied by one of the vehicle occupants. The system can include a sensor for enabling identification of the vehicle occupants regardless of their location within the vehicle, and a user input configured to enable the vehicle occupants to enter a request to control one of the predetermined operations. 
         [0015]    The processor based controller can be programmed to create and store a hierarchy of profiles. Each profile can correspond to at least one of the occupants who has been identified and provided authorization to control certain of the predetermined operations. The hierarchy of profiles can include a high ranking profile providing authorization to control more of the predetermined operations than a lower ranked profile. The controller can be programmed to: match an identified vehicle occupant who has entered a request with one of the stored profiles, accept the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile provides authorization to control the requested operation, reject the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile does not provide authorization to control the requested operation, and enable implementation of the requested operation if the request has been accepted based on the matched profile providing authorization. 
         [0016]    Still other embodiments are directed to a hierarchical based computer implemented method for controlling predetermined vehicle operations upon receiving requests from vehicle occupants. The method can include identifying vehicle occupants regardless of their location within the vehicle, and matching an identified vehicle occupant who has entered a request with one profile of a hierarchy of stored profiles. Each profile can correspond to at least one of the occupants who has been identified and providing authorization to control certain of the predetermined operations. The hierarchy of profiles can include a high ranking profile providing authorization to control more of the predetermined operations than a lower ranked profile. The method can include: accepting the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile provides authorization to control the requested operation; rejecting the request to control the requested operation if the matched profile does not provide authorization to control the requested operation; and enabling implementation of the requested operation if the request has been accepted based on the matched profile providing authorization. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The disclosed subject matter of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and method, given by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of an exemplary autonomous vehicle control system made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of vehicle systems that can be associated with the autonomous vehicle control system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of an exemplary design of an autonomous vehicle interior associated with the autonomous vehicle control system of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an exemplary method to identify and rank autonomous vehicle passengers based on owner profiles. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of passenger locations within an autonomous vehicle that have been identified according the method of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an exemplary process to approve a request for controlling the autonomous vehicle of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process to add a profile of an occupant of the autonomous vehicle of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. 
       I. Autonomous Vehicle Control System 
       [0026]    Some of the disclosed embodiments relate to vehicles configured with automated driving technology, such as semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles. In the disclosed embodiments, vehicles configured with automated driving technology can include automobiles, trucks, vans, minivans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), busses, recreational vehicles, amusement park vehicles, trams, golf carts, robotically controlled vehicles, automated drive vehicles, remote controlled vehicles, drones, motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, bicycles, ATVs, trains, trams, light rail trains, boats, ships, watercraft, aircraft, helicopters, or any transport related entity. In fact, the various disclosed methods and apparatus are intended to be usable with any type of automated, semi-automated, or self-driving mode of transport that can travel along, or can be located in proximity to, any improved, unimproved, and/or unmarked route or path. In fact, some embodiments are also applicable to manually operated vehicles. 
         [0027]    Some of the disclosed embodiments relate to a vehicle control system and computer-implemented methods associated therewith. Examples of vehicle control systems that could implement the embodiments include systems configured for automated driving technology; adaptive cruise control (ACC); intelligent cruise control; driver-assist for: freeway merging, exiting, and lane-change/lane departure warning; collision warning; integrated vehicle-based safety; automatic guided vehicle; etc. Some of the embodiments are disclosed below in the context of an autonomous vehicle control system configured for use in an autonomous vehicle (vehicle). 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of an exemplary autonomous vehicle control system  100  (control system) of the embodiments. The disclosed control system  100  is intended to be implemented with any known, related art or later developed technologies. Additionally, the disclosed control system  100  may be associated with other vehicles or used in other applications. Other control systems associated with some vehicles may include different elements and/or arrangements as configured for control system  100 , but may be configured to operate similar to, and be compatible with, control system  100 . 
         [0029]    A vehicle  102  may have one or more computers, such as an autonomous vehicle computer system  104  (computer system) including a processor  106 , a memory  108  and other components typically present in general or special purpose computers. In some embodiments, the control system  100  may include programmable logic circuits and/or pre-configured logic circuits for executing control system functions. The memory  108  stores information accessible by processor  106  including instructions  110  and data  112  that may be executed or otherwise used by the processor  106 . The control logic (in this example, software instructions or computer program code), when executed by the processor  106 , causes processor  106  to perform the functions of the embodiments as described herein. The memory  108  may be of any type capable of storing information accessible by the processor, including a computer-readable medium, or other medium that stores data that may be read with the aid of an electronic device, such as a hard-drive, flash drive, memory card, ROM, RAM, DVD or other optical disks, as well as other write-capable and read-only memories. Systems and methods may include different combinations of the foregoing, whereby different portions of the instructions and data are stored on different types of media. 
         [0030]    The instructions  110  may be any set of instructions to be executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as scripts) by the processor  106 . For example, the instructions may be stored as computer code on the computer-readable medium. In this regard, the terms “instructions” and “programs” may be used interchangeably herein. The instructions may be stored in object code format for direct processing by the processor, or in any other computer language including scripts or collections of independent source code modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance. Functions, methods and routines of the instructions are explained in more detail below. 
         [0031]    Data  112  may be retrieved, stored or modified by the processor  106  in accordance with the instructions  110 . For instance, although the system is not limited by any particular data structure, the data may be stored in computer registers, in a relational database as a table having a plurality of different fields and records, XML documents, flat files, etc. The data may also be formatted in any computer-readable format. The data may include any information sufficient to identify the relevant information, such as numbers, descriptive text, proprietary codes, references to data stored in other areas of the same memory or different memories (including other network locations) or information that is used by a function to calculate the relevant data. 
         [0032]    The processor  106  may be any known, related art or later developed processor. Alternatively, the processor may be a dedicated device, such as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), DSP (digital signal processor), etc. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the processor  106 , memory  108 , and other elements of computer system  104  as being within the same block, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the processor  106  and memory  108  may actually include multiple processors and memories that may or may not be stored within the same physical housing. For example, memory  108  may be a hard drive or other storage media located in a housing that is different from that of computer system  104 . Accordingly, references to a processor or computer will be understood to include references to a collection of processors, computers or memories that may or may not operate in parallel. Rather than using a single processor to perform the steps described herein, some of the components, for example sensor components and camera components, may each have their own processor that only performs calculations related to the component&#39;s specific function. 
         [0033]    In an alternative embodiment, the processor  106  may be located remote from the vehicle  102  and communicate with the vehicle wirelessly. In the disclosed embodiments, some of the processes described herein are executed on a processor disposed within the vehicle  102 , and others by a remote processor that can be accessed over the wireless network. 
         [0034]    Computer system  104  may include all of the components normally used in connection with a computer, such as a central processing unit (CPU) (e.g. processor  406 ), the memory  108  (e.g., RAM and internal hard drives) storing data  112  and instructions  110 , a communicator/annunciator such as a display device  128  (e.g., a monitor having a screen, a small LCD touch-screen or any other electrical device that is operable to display and/or audibly playout information, a heads up projected or integrated display), and a user input device  126  (e.g., a mouse, keyboard, touch screen and/or microphone). Data  112  can include but is not limited to owner profiles  114 , human-machine interface (HMI) configurations  116 , and passenger seat configuration  118 . The computer system  104  can also include components not normally associated with general purpose computers, such as an owner profile component  120 , a passenger identification component  122 , and an owner request component  124 . 
         [0035]    The computer system  104  may be capable of communicating with various components of the vehicle  102 . For example, computer system  104  may be in communication with the vehicle&#39;s electronic control unit (ECU)  130  and may send and receive information from the various systems of vehicle  102 , for example a vehicle subsystem sensor system  132 , a vehicle communication system  134 , a vehicle event sensor system  136 , and a vehicle navigation system  138 . ECU  130  may be configured to communicate with, and/or control, various components of vehicle  102 . When engaged, computer system  104  may control some or all of these functions of vehicle  102 . It will be understood that, although various systems and computer system  104  are shown within vehicle  102 , these elements may be external to vehicle  102  and/or physically separated by large distances. 
         [0036]    As indicated above, the vehicle  102  may also include the vehicle subsystem sensor system  132 . The computer system  104  may communicate with sensors in one or more vehicle subsystems to gather data for vehicle  102  speed, direction, acceleration, braking, and/or other factors. The vehicle subsystem sensor system  132  may include, but is not limited to, engine oil/coolant sensing systems, transmission oil sensing systems, brake sensing systems, steering and control sensing systems, fuel storage sensing systems, torque sensors, and speed and acceleration/deceleration sensors (including, but not limited to, lateral, longitudinal, yaw, or rotational sensors), inertia sensor systems, vehicle height sensing systems, etc. 
         [0037]    As indicated above, the vehicle  102  may also include the vehicle communication system  134 . The computer system  104  may communicate with external communication apparatus for sending and receiving vehicle kinematic and traffic data. For instance, the vehicle communication system  134  can include a transceiver that can communicate with vehicles or infrastructure over a Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) network or other wireless network. 
         [0038]    As further indicated above, the vehicle  102  may also include the vehicle event sensor system  136  for collecting traffic data. Traffic data can include detecting the location, orientation, heading, etc., of entities external to the vehicle  102 , such as other vehicles, pedestrians, obstacles, traffic signals, signs, wildlife, trees, or any entity that can provide information to control system  100 . For example, data useful for autonomous driving and navigation such as traffic vehicle kinematics, roadways and/or paths, navigation, infrastructure, environmental scenarios, weather conditions, roadway conditions, terrain, and/or vehicles merging from one path into a second path can be collected by either or both of the vehicle communication system  134  and vehicle event sensor system  136 . 
         [0039]    The vehicle event sensor system  136  may collect sensor data from sensor apparatus including radar, lidar, sonar, cameras or any other detection devices which can transmit traffic data that can be processed by the computer system  104 . Vehicle sensor systems and DSRC communication systems can provide data that is processed by the computer system  104  in real-time. In other words, the sensors may update their output to reflect external traffic and road conditions continuously or as-demanded to provide updated output to the computer system  104 . 
         [0040]    The vehicle navigation system  138  can be interoperable with computer system  104  to provide navigation maps and transport information. Vehicle navigation system  138  may be any type of known, related or later developed navigational system. The phrase “navigation information” refers to any information that can be used to assist vehicle  102  in navigating a roadway or path. Navigation information may include traffic data, map data, and roadway classification information data. Examples of navigation information can include street addresses, street names, street or address numbers, intersection information, points of interest, parks, bodies of water, any political or geographical subdivision including town, township, province, prefecture, city, state, district, ZIP or postal code, and country. Navigation information can also include commercial information including business and restaurant names, commercial districts, shopping centers, and parking facilities. Navigation information can also include geographical information, including information obtained from any Global Navigational Satellite infrastructure (GNSS), including Global Positioning System or Satellite (GPS), Glonass (Russian) and/or Galileo (European). 
         [0041]    The vehicle navigation system  138  may also include a geographic position component  140  that may include a GPS receiver  210  (see  FIG. 2 ) to determine the autonomous vehicle&#39;s latitude, longitude and/or altitude position. Other location systems, such as laser-based localization systems, inertial-aided GPS, or camera-based localization may also be used to identify absolute or relative locations. The GPS receiver  210  may be used for gathering additional information associated with vehicle  102  that includes, but is not limited to, speed, location, trajectory, distance traveled, acceleration, and other dynamic vehicle information. In alternative embodiments, the vehicle navigation system  138  may also include other features in communication with the computer system  104 , such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or another direction/speed detection device to determine the direction and speed of the vehicle or changes thereto. 
         [0042]    Vehicle  102  may include other apparatus for communicating, and in some cases controlling, the various components associated with vehicle subsystems. 
       II. Vehicle Systems Associated with the Autonomous Vehicle Control System 
       [0043]      FIG. 2  is a schematic showing vehicle systems  200  that can be associated with the control system  100  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , ECU  130  can communicate with a data logger system  202 , the vehicle subsystem  204 , an autonomous drive controller  206 , a navigation system  208 , a vehicle sensor system  216 , a camera  222 , a laser  224 , and a DSRC transceiver  226 . 
         [0044]    In the embodiments, data logger system  202  may communicate with ECU  130  to acquire and log data collected from any of the vehicle systems and subsystems. Data relevant to control system  100  includes, but is not limited to, navigation data, sensor data, radar data, multimedia data, such as images or video streams, audio information, scanner data, etc. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, ECU  130  may be configured to receive instructions from the computer system  104  for commands to be executed by the autonomous drive controller  206 , for example, to actuate or suppress a brake, accelerator, steering, etc. 
         [0046]    Vehicle  102  can include the navigation system  208  that is configured to be in communication with ECU  130  and perform the functions of vehicle navigation system  138 . Navigation system  208  may include a navigation system display  212 , and can store map and location information in a navigation database  214 . Navigation system display  212  may display navigational maps and information to a user using any type of display technology known or presently unknown in the art. Navigation system display  212  may also communicate information to vehicle  102  using any type of known, related art or later developed audio technology, such as by using predetermined sounds or electronically generated speech. 
         [0047]    In an embodiment, the sensor system  216  can communicate with ECU  130  and any number of vehicle sensor devices in any configuration, such as sensor  218 , radar system  220 , camera  222 , and laser  224 , disposed at any beneficial area of vehicle  102 . Sensor system  216  may communicate with multiple devices that assist in collecting data including, but not limited to, sensors  218  that can collect data for vehicle speed, steering, and inertia (yaw) relative to gravity or a perpendicular plane to gravity. Although one sensor  218  is shown in  FIG. 2 , it is understood that sensor  218  is a representation of one or more sensors installed within or outside of vehicle  102 . Other embodiments of sensors  218  can collect proximity data using rear, front, and side proximity detection sensors  218 . The sensor system  216  devices can be advantageous by collecting data for identification and tracking the movement of traffic entities such as motorcycle, passenger car, and commercial vehicle traffic, or any other condition, entity, or vehicle that could provide data. 
         [0048]    In an embodiment, DSRC communications can collect traffic and transport related data from other DSRC transceivers that can be configured for a vehicle, pedestrian, building, tower, billboard, traffic signal, roadway sign, or any transport related entity or user. Such information and data received by DSRC transceiver  226  can be saved to data logger system  202  and/or processed by computer system  104 . 
       III. Vehicle Interior 
       [0049]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of an exemplary design of a vehicle interior  300  associated with the vehicle  102  and control system  100  of  FIG. 1 . The vehicle interior  300  may include, for example, a dashboard  302 , a steering apparatus such as a steering wheel  304 , an instrument panel  306 , and a center portion  308 . Center portion  308  can include one or more devices associated with the interior of the vehicle, including, but not limited to: audio devices, video devices, navigation devices, as well as any other types of devices. In addition, center portion  308  can be associated with controls for one or more systems of vehicle  102  including, but not limited to: climate control systems, radio and sound systems, and other types of systems. The vehicle interior  300  may also have a display device  310  for displaying information from control system  100 , and/or other related or unrelated vehicular systems. In some embodiments, vehicle interior  300  can include a driver vehicle interface  312  that may include the display device  310 . Examples of display device  310  include, but are not limited to, LCDs, CRTs, ELDs, LEDs, OLEDs, heads-up type displays, or electronic paper displays each with or without a touchscreen, as well as other types of displays. Display device  310  can include a touchscreen for use as the user input device  126  for activating or deactivating one or more control system  100  modes, and for enabling a user to provide information, such as navigation destination or traffic information, to the computer system  104 . In alternative embodiments, driver vehicle interface  312  can include buttons, a keypad, or other types of user input devices  126 . In another embodiment, driver vehicle interface  312  can include a heads-up projection type display that is configured to project an image onto one or more surfaces of vehicle interior  300 , such as windshield  314 . In some embodiments, display device  310  can be located in any portion of vehicle interior  300 , or can be a portable device. For example, display device  310  can be located within instrument panel  306  or anterior to a passenger seat headrest (not shown). 
         [0050]    In addition, while display device  310  can be configured to present visual information for computer system  104 , display device  310  can be shared with other devices or systems within vehicle  102  such as vehicle navigation system  138 , vehicle communication system  134 , collision warning system, etc. In an example, display device  310  may display vehicle operation information, traffic information, alerts, driving information, or navigation maps to a vehicle operator. 
       IV. Methods of Operation 
       [0051]    The flowchart in  FIG. 4  discloses an exemplary process to identify and rank vehicle passengers based on a hierarchy of authority. The exemplary process  400  can be implemented partially or entirely using the embodiments for devices and processes described in the figures. However, the devices, systems, and methods of the embodiments may be applied to other embodiments, vehicles, vehicular control systems, vehicle computer systems, etc. 
         [0052]    The process  400  may include a step  402  to create owner profiles in computer system memory  108  for each occupant or potential occupant of vehicle  102 . Occupant data may include personal information, such as name and contact information. Occupant security credentials, such as a user name and password, may be entered and saved into a profile, as well as biometric information, such as facial scans for facial recognition, voice print files for voice recognition, and/or fingerprint scans for fingerprint recognition. Owner profiles may also include identification information synchronized to a key FOB, smart phone, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, USB key, or other wireless or connectable hardware device. Owner profiles may also include specific human machine interface (HMI) configurations that the occupant can configure and save, such as seating adjustments, external mirrors adjustments, operating temperatures of vehicle heating and air conditioning, etc. Owner profiles may be saved into owner profile data  114 . 
         [0053]    The process  400  may also include step  404  to determine a level of authority for each owner profile created in step  402 . According to the embodiments, it may be advantageous for autonomous vehicles to identify the level of authority of an occupant to exercise some level of control over the operation of the vehicle based on information other than the occupant&#39;s location within the vehicle. 
         [0054]    The determination of a level of authority for each owner profile  404  can be useful for various reasons, such as to determine whether a certain occupant has the authority to operate certain vehicular controls. An occupant with ultimate authority to operate and/or issue commands for vehicular controls can be designated as a primary owner of the vehicle. Occupants other than the primary owner in this context are identified as “owners” of the vehicle who may have some lesser control over operation of the vehicle. Varying levels of authority may be defined for each owner, and the types or categories of vehicle operations that are permissible under a certain level may be approved by the primary owner and saved into owner profile data  114  for each occupant. 
         [0055]    The process  400  may also include step  406  to identify each occupant within the vehicle  102 . In this context, the passenger identification component  122  can identify both the occupant (e.g., a passenger within the vehicle matches an owner profile) and a location of the occupant within a vehicle (e.g., driver&#39;s seat, back seat, etc.). Certain vehicular controls that can be accessed from a seat location (e.g., via a touchscreen in front of or near to a seat position), can be activated according to the level of authority of the passenger in the seat. Alternatively, portable devices that can connect to computer system  104  and be used to control certain vehicular controls can be activated according to the level of authority of the occupant using the portable device. For example, if the passenger is identified as the primary owner, then the vehicular controls accessible from the primary owner&#39;s seat (which, as described above, may or may not be the typical driver&#39;s seat) can control all operations and systems of vehicle  102 . 
         [0056]    The passenger identification can be performed by passenger identification component  122  in various ways, such as by using a seat sensor, key FOB or other wireless hardware device carried by a passenger, biometrics (e.g., facial, speech, fingerprint, etc. that is matched to owner profile data  114 ), connected mobile phone, etc. The passenger seat configuration may be saved as passenger seat configuration data  118 . 
         [0057]    The control system  100  can perform various actions when the vehicle occupant is identified, including loading specific human machine interface (HMI) configurations that the occupant saved in his or her owner profile, such as adjusting seating and making requests to control the vehicle (wherein the request is subject to the approval process based on the owner ranking hierarchy, subject to the fact that the highest ranking owner has the ability to override the system and directly grant approval). 
         [0058]    Once occupants are identified, the process  400  may include step  408  to rank each occupant based on a hierarchy of authority. The passenger identification component  122  determines where the vehicle occupant fits into the hierarchical ranking. The identification process  408  includes ranking each vehicle occupant based upon a hierarchy. Each occupant&#39;s level of authority can be determined from the occupant&#39;s owner profile. An algorithm in the passenger identification component  122  can calculate predetermined factors that have been either pre-set according to a set of standard rules for the operation of the vehicle  102  or customized factors that can be a set of rules saved into data  112  by the primary owner. For example, the primary owner of vehicle  102  can be ranked at the top of the hierarchy, whereas a passenger with little or no operational authority, such as a passenger without a driver&#39;s license, can be ranked at the bottom of the hierarchy. 
         [0059]    Thus, vehicle operation is determined by the owner hierarchy and is based on order of ownership, and specifically involves a request approval process that requires approval for requests or commands to control the vehicle  102  along a ranked list of vehicle owners (see  FIG. 6 ). However, administrator rights may be granted by higher ranking vehicle owners to streamline the approval process. 
         [0060]    As an example of ranking vehicle owners without regard to occupant location,  FIG. 5  is an exemplary schematic  500  of passengers within vehicle  102  that have been identified, using the processes and systems described above. Vehicle  102  includes a driver&#39;s seat  502 , front passenger seat  504 , second row driver-side passenger seat  506  and passenger seat  508 , third row driver-side passenger seat  510  and passenger seat  512 , and back row driver-side passenger seat  514  and passenger seat  516 . After occupants enter vehicle  102 , the passenger identification component  122  can identify occupants sitting in driver&#39;s seat  502  and passenger seat  512 . The passenger identification component identifies the passengers according to one or more sensors or scans, such as a biometric scan or facial recognition using a camera and specialized software, and matches owner profiles from saved owner profile data  114  to the respective occupants. However, as discussed above, it should be understood that the passenger identification component can rely on other process(es) for passenger identification. The algorithm then ranks the occupants according to level of authority recorded in each profile. 
         [0061]    In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , occupants of vehicle  102  are identified as a primary owner who occupies seat position  512  and secondary owner who occupies the driver&#39;s seat  504 . Since the vehicle  102  can be operated from any seat, although a secondary owner occupies driver&#39;s seat  502 , the operational control of the vehicle  102  is activated at seat  512 , i.e., the location of the primary owner. In this embodiment, the primary owner is located within the vehicle  102 . 
         [0062]    However, embodiments also include or otherwise cover the situation where the primary owner is located outside of the vehicle  102 . In other words, the primary owner may be located outside of vehicle  102 , and therefore would not occupy any seat within the vehicle  102 . In such an example, the primary owner may control the operation of vehicle  102  using a portable input device  126 , e.g., tablet computer or mobile telephone, that can communicate with the control system  104 . Alternatively, or in addition, the primary owner may not exercise any direct control over the vehicle  102  and only address (e.g., affirm or reject) requests made by other owners, as described below. In still other embodiments, the primary owner may not even address requests when not occupying a seat or being otherwise disposed within the vehicle. 
         [0063]    The process  400  may further include step  410  to operate the automated vehicle  102  according to the hierarchical owner rankings. In operation, certain aspects of the control system  100  focus on the higher ranking owner within the vehicle  102 . For example, cameras and associated facial recognition programs in memory  108  can be provided within the vehicle  102  that focus on the highest ranking owner, such that the computer system  104  becomes more aware of the primary owner&#39;s facial expressions and mannerisms for the purpose of better accommodating, interpreting, and predicting the primary owner&#39;s requests. Microphones within the vehicle  102  can focus on the highest ranking owner&#39;s voice and seat location, such that the computer system  104  becomes more aware of the primary owner&#39;s vocabulary and intonations for the purpose of better accommodating, interpreting, and predicting the primary owner&#39;s commands and/or requests. In the example where the primary owner is located outside the vehicle, the primary owner can be identified by wireless communications between the primary owner&#39;s personal communication device, e.g. smart phone, key FOB, computer, etc., and the computer system  104  via the vehicle communication system  134 . 
         [0064]    Certain processes take priority if issued by the top or higher ranking owners with the level of authority to control the processes. For example, a preferred driving mode can be adjusted to suit a top ranking owner, such as in the case where a top ranking owner prefers sports mode and the control system  100  thereby enables the vehicle to propel itself in a more spirited fashion. 
         [0065]    In operation, commands and/or requests from occupants are approved or rejected by owner request component  124  based on the hierarchical ranking of the requestor and other owners.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an exemplary process to approve a request for controlling the vehicle  102 . For illustration of the process, the exemplary approval process  600  assumes there are three identified owners within vehicle  102  who have been ranked according to levels of authority as primary owner, owner two, and owner three. The number of identified owners in the example of  FIG. 6  is merely exemplary. The process for  FIG. 6  may be expanded or contracted for any number of owners for the vehicle  102 . 
         [0066]    The process initiates at step  602 , when a certain owner (in this case owner three) transmits a request to computer system  104  via user input device  126 , such as a request to add a waypoint to a current navigation route. Owner request component  124  inquires, in step  604 , with owner profile data  114  as to whether owner three has permission, based on owner three&#39;s level of authority, to command computer system  104  to carry out the task. If owner three has a proper level of authority in step  604 , then the request is approved in step  606 . If owner request component  124  determines that owner three does not have permission to carry out the task, then the process continues to step  606  where the request is passed to the next highest ranking owner for approval (in this case owner two) for approval. In step  612 , the owner request component  124  determines whether owner two has permission to carry out the task (i.e. to approve the request of owner three), and if so then the request is approved in step  606 . If owner two has permission in step  608 , then owner two may alternatively reject the request in step  610 . If owner request component  124  determines that owner two does not have permission to carry out the task (i.e., to approve the request from owner three), then the request passes in step  614  to the next highest ranking owner for approval, which in this case the primary owner. The owner request component  124  can recognize from owner profile data  114  that the primary owner has permission to approve the request. In step  616 , the owner request component  124  determines whether the primary owner approves the request, and if so then in step  606  the request is approved and can be implemented by computer system  104 . However, in step  616  if the primary owner denies the request, then the request is rejected in step  610 . In the embodiments, the primary owner can interject and approve or reject the pending request at any point in the process. 
         [0067]    In the example where the primary owner is located outside of the vehicle  102 , a request that is transmitted internally within the vehicle  102  cannot be considered by the primary owner, who as stated above is not inside the vehicle  102 . However in an alternative embodiment where the primary owner is provided with the ability to address requests, the request can be transmitted wirelessly by computer system  104  to the primary owner via the vehicle communication system  134 . The primary owner can receive the request on any type of mobile device or computer device that is known or currently unknown in the art. A primary owner located outside of the vehicle  102  can receive a request on a mobile telephone in the form of a message or on a personal computer in the form of an Email. The primary owner may respond to the request with a reply to the message or Email to either approve or reject the request. 
         [0068]    Embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any and all additional operations relevant to addressing the situation where the primary owner is disposed outside of the vehicle. For example, in situations where the primary owner is disposed outside of the vehicle and is not intended to play any role in the vehicle&#39;s operations, the highest ranking occupant may fill the role of the primary owner. Alternatively, in embodiments where the primary owner is intended to have the ability to address requests, then as disclosed above the primary owner may address such requests wirelessly. If the primary owner in these situations fails to respond, then either the second highest ranking owner or the highest ranking occupant may fill the role of the primary owner in this respect. The above operations are merely provided for exemplary purposes, and as indicated above embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any relevant operations. 
         [0069]    In some situations, a new occupant within an automated vehicle may not have an owner profile saved in owner profile data  114 . For example during the process in step  406  where passenger identification component  124  identifies the occupants of the vehicle  102 , a new occupant may be unrecognized by the computer system  104  and therefore lack an owner profile ranking of hierarchy according to a level of authority. If the passenger is not included on the ranking list, then a temporary profile can be created for the passenger. 
         [0070]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary process  700  for adding a profile of a new passenger within the vehicle  102 . The process  700  may begin at step  702  where passenger identification component  122  inquires as to whether an occupant entering the vehicle  102  has an owner profile saved in owner profiles data  144 . If the occupant has an owner profile, then in step  706  the occupant is associated with the owner&#39;s retrieved profile and the ranking list created in step  408  for the vehicle  102  is updated. However, if the new occupant does not have an owner profile, then the process continues to step  704  where owner profile component  120  can create a temporary profile for the new occupant with a unique identification associated with the profile. After the temporary profile is created, the owner profile component  120  can query the new owner in step  708  as to whether to save the temporary profile. If the new owner does not want the profile saved, then in step  710  the profile is deleted after the new owner exits the vehicle  102  or alternatively after a predetermined time period. However, if the new owner responds to save the new profile, then in step  712  the owner profile component  120  queries the primary owner as to whether the temporary profile of the new owner should be saved. If the primary owner in step  714  decides not to save the new profile, then in step  710  the profile is deleted after the new owner leaves the vehicle  102  or alternatively after a predetermined time period. However, if the primary owner decides to save the temporary profile, then the temporary profile data is saved in step  716  into owner profile data  114 . 
         [0071]    In step  718 , the process  700  may include the owner profile component  120  querying the primary owner to assign a level of authority to the new profile. If the primary owner declines to set a level of authority for the new profile, then in step  720  the owner profile component  120  sets the new profile as a lowest ranking by default. However, if the primary owner chooses to set a level of authority for the new profile, then in step  722  the ranking (and therefore level of authority to operate vehicle  102 ) for the new profile is saved in owner profile data  114 . After the level of authority is set by the owner profile component  120  or by the primary owner, the owner profile is associated with the new occupant in vehicle  102  and the vehicle&#39;s hierarchical ranking list according to level of authority is updated by computer system  104 . 
         [0072]    The above described techniques may take the form of computer or controller implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those methods. The disclosure can also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer or controller, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the embodiments. The disclosure may also be embodied in the form of computer program code or signal, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer or controller, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
       V. Alternative Embodiments 
       [0073]    While certain embodiments of the invention are described above, and  FIGS. 1-7  disclose a best mode for practicing the various inventive aspects, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied and configured in many different ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0074]    Exemplary embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of ranking and/or hierarchical process and system for occupants to exercise authority to control and operate the vehicle  102 . In other words, exemplary embodiments are intended to cover any application of a control system based on a level of authority between a primary owner and occupants of autonomous vehicles, trucks, ships, aircraft, etc. 
         [0075]    Some of the exemplary embodiments are disclosed in the context of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles. However, any and all of the disclosed features can also be applied to other types of vehicles, such as manually operated vehicles. In fact, some embodiments can be applied in contexts that do not involve vehicles. 
         [0076]    Exemplary embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of a control system for vehicle  102  according to the embodiments that can be operated outside of the vehicle  102  and that can communicate instructions and commands for execution of control system operations. An example of a control system that can be operated outside of an vehicle  102  is computer system  104  located in a server that is remote from and communicates with vehicle  102  over a wireless network, such as a cellular data network, DSRC network, etc. 
         [0077]    Exemplary embodiments are intended to cover execution of method steps on any appropriate specialized or general purpose server, computer device, or processor in any order relative to one another. Some of the steps in the embodiments can be omitted, as desired, and executed in any order. 
         [0078]    A computer architecture of the embodiments may be a general purpose computer and/or processor or a special purpose computer and/or processor. A computer and/or processor can be used to implement any components of the computer system  104  or the computer-implemented methods of the embodiments. For example, components of computer system  104  can be implemented on a computer via its hardware, software program, firmware, or a combination thereof. Although individual computers or servers are shown in the embodiments, the computer functions relating to computer system  104  may be implemented in a distributed fashion on a number of similar platforms, to distribute the processing and/or functional load. 
         [0079]    Embodiments are also intended to include or otherwise cover methods of using and methods of manufacturing the control system  100  disclosed above. The methods of manufacturing include or otherwise cover processors and computer programs implemented by processors used to design various elements of the control system  100  above. For example, embodiments are intended to cover processors and computer programs used to design or test the control system  100 . 
         [0080]    Exemplary embodiments are intended to cover all software or computer programs capable of enabling processors to execute instructions and implement the above operations, designs and determinations. Exemplary embodiments are also intended to cover any and all currently known, related art or later developed non-transitory recording or storage mediums (such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard drive, RAM, ROM, floppy disc, magnetic tape cassette, etc.) that record or store such software or computer programs. Exemplary embodiments are further intended to cover such software, computer programs, systems and/or processes provided through any other currently known, related art, or later developed medium (such as transitory mediums, carrier waves, etc.), usable for implementing the exemplary operations disclosed above. 
         [0081]    These computer programs can be executed in many exemplary ways, such as an application that is resident in the memory of a device or as a hosted application that is being executed on a server and communicating with the device application or browser via a number of standard protocols, such as TCP/IP, HTTP, XML, SOAP, REST, JSON and other sufficient protocols. The disclosed computer programs can be written in exemplary programming languages that execute from memory on the device or from a hosted server, such as BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, Java, Pascal, or scripting languages such as JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Perl or other sufficient programming languages. 
         [0082]    Embodiments are amenable to a variety of modifications and/or enhancements. For example, although the implementation of various components described above may be embodied in a hardware device, it can also be implemented as a software-only solution, e.g., an installation on an existing server. In addition, systems and their components as disclosed herein can be implemented as a firmware, firmware/software combination, firmware/hardware combination, or a hardware/firmware/software combination. 
         [0083]    Some of the disclosed embodiments include or otherwise involve data transfer over a network, such as communicating various inputs over the network. The network may include, for example, one or more of the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs), analog or digital wired and wireless telephone networks (e.g., a PSTN, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a cellular network, and Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)), Wi-Fi networks, radio, television, cable, satellite, and/or any other delivery or tunneling mechanism for carrying data. A network may include multiple networks or sub-networks, each of which may include, for example, a wired or wireless data pathway. The network may include a circuit-switched voice network, a packet-switched data network, or any other network able to carry electronic communications. For example, the network may include networks based on the Internet protocol (IP) or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and may support voice using, for example, VoIP, Voice-over-ATM, or other comparable protocols used for voice data communications. In one implementation, the network includes a cellular telephone network configured to enable exchange of text or SMS messages. 
         [0084]    Examples of a network include, but are not limited to, a personal area network (PAN), a storage area network (SAN), a home area network (HAN), a campus area network (CAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an enterprise private network (EPN), Internet, a global area network (GAN), and so forth. 
         [0085]    While the subject matter has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention.