Abstract:
A method of simulating manipulating a vehicle, the method including the steps of transmitting a simulation to a plurality of remote devices, gathering information pertaining to a response of each user to the simulation on each remote device, comparing each response of each user to determine a threshold value, rating each user&#39;s performance based on the threshold value.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claim priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/180,703 titled “DRIVER SIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHODS OF PERFORMING THE SAME” and filed on Jun. 17, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Simulating conditions encountered during the operation of a vehicle assists operators of vehicles in learning better operating techniques. However, conventional simulation techniques do not allow for accurate rating of one operator in relation to another operator. A need exists for a simulation system that allows users to operate different simulations for comparison against a performance baseline. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of simulating manipulating a vehicle, the method including the steps of transmitting a simulation to a plurality of remote devices, gathering information pertaining to a response of each user to the simulation on each remote device, comparing each response of each user to determine a threshold value, rating each user&#39;s performance based on the threshold value. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, the method includes the step of gathering information from a user to determine one of plurality of simulations to transmit to the remote devices. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the information gathered includes an attribute of operating the vehicle to be tested. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the method includes the step of gathering information pertaining to a response includes gathering values from at least one sensor coupled to the system. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, at least one sensor is a wheel unit, brake unit or pedal unit. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the method includes the step of dividing the simulation into at least one portion and determining at least one threshold value for each portion. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the method includes the step of determining a rating for each user for each portion of the simulation. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the information gathered pertains to a simulation of driving an automobile. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the simulation includes information to gather during the execution of the simulation. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the simulation includes a list of commands to execute during the simulation. 
         [0013]    Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a vehicle simulation system, including an information gathering unit gathers information on a desired simulation, selects a simulation based on the information gathered and transmits a simulation to a plurality of remote devices, a simulation tracking unit hat gathers information pertaining to a response of each user to the simulation on each remote device, a driver analysis unit that compares each response of each user to determine a threshold value and determines a rating for each user&#39;s performance based on the threshold value. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the information gathering unit gathers information from a user to determine at least two of a plurality of simulations to transmit to the remote devices. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the information gathered includes an attribute of operating the vehicle to be tested. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the simulation tracking unit gathers values from at least one sensor coupled to the system. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, at least one sensor is a wheel unit, brake unit or pedal unit. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the simulation is divided into at least one portion and the threshold value is determined for each portion. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, a rating is determined for each user for each portion of the simulation. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the information gathered pertains to a simulation of driving an automobile. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the simulation includes information to gather during the execution of the simulation. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the simulation includes a list of commands to execute during the simulation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0023]    Details of the present invention, including non-limiting benefits and advantages, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of an Driver Simulation System suitable for use with the methods and systems consistent with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a more detailed depiction of the computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a more detailed depiction of the computers of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic representation of a driving simulation system analyzing a driver&#39;s performance; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  depicts a schematic representation of a local simulation unit loading and running a simulation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    This disclosure relates to a network based driver simulation system that provides centralized management of a plurality of driving scenarios that are transmitted to local simulation units for execution. The local simulation units are configured to execute the simulations and to gather information related to the user&#39;s performance responding to the scenarios presented during the simulation. The information gathered is then used to present new simulations to the user based on the user&#39;s performance in view of the performance of other users. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of an Driver Simulation System (“DSS”)  100  suitable for use with the methods and systems consistent with the present invention. The DSS  100  comprises a plurality of computers  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  connected via a network  110 . The network  110  is of a type that is suitable for connecting the computers for communication, such as a circuit-switched network or a packet switched network. Also, the network  110  may include a number of different networks, such as a local area network, a wide area network such as the Internet, telephone networks including telephone networks with dedicated communication links, connection-less network, and wireless networks. In the illustrative example shown in  FIG. 1 , the network  110  is the Internet. Each of the computers  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  shown in  FIG. 1  is connected to the network  110  via a suitable communication link, such as a dedicated communication line or a wireless communication link. 
         [0031]    In an illustrative example, computer  102  serves as an Drive Simulation Unit (“DSU”) that includes an information gathering unit  112 , simulation tracking unit  114  and a driver analysis unit  116 . The number of computers and the network configuration shown in  FIG. 1  are merely an illustrative example. One having skill in the art will appreciate that the DSS  100  may include a different number of computers and networks. For example, computer  102  may include the information gathering unit  112 , simulation tracking unit  114  and driver analysis unit  116  may reside on different computers. Each of the computers  104 ,  106  and  108  includes a local driver simulation unit  118 ,  120  and  122 . The driver simulation units  118 ,  120  and  122  are configured to present a simulated driving environment to a user. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a more detailed depiction of the computer  102 . The computer  102  comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  202 , an input output ( 10 ) unit  204 , a display device  206  communicatively coupled to the  10  Unit  204 , a secondary storage device  208 , and a memory  210 . The computer  202  may further comprise standard input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a digitizer, or a speech processing means (each not illustrated). 
         [0033]    The computer  102 &#39;s memory  210  includes a Graphical User Interface (“GUI”)  212  that is used to gather information from a user via the display device  206  and I/O unit  204  as described herein. The GUI  212  includes any user interface capable of being displayed on a display device  206  including, but not limited to, a web page, a display panel in an executable program, or any other interface capable of being displayed on a computer screen. The GUI  212  may also be stored in the secondary storage unit  208 . In one embodiment consistent with the present invention, the GUI  212  is displayed using commercially available hypertext markup language (“HTML”) viewing software such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or any other commercially available HTML viewing software. The secondary storage unit  208  may include an information storage unit  214 . The information storage unit may be a rational database such as, but not including Microsoft&#39;s SQL, Oracle or any other database. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a more detailed depiction of the computers  104 ,  106  and  108 . Each computer  104 ,  106  and  108  comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  302 , an input output (IO) unit  304 , a display device  306  communicatively coupled to the IO Unit  304 , a wheel unit  308  communicatively coupled to the IO Unit  304 , a brake unit  310  communicatively coupled to the IO Unit  304 , a pedal unit  312  communicatively coupled to the IO Unit  304 , a gear shift unit  314  communicatively coupled to the IO Unit  304 , a secondary storage device  316 , and a memory  318 . The pedal unit  312  includes a brake pedal and accelerator pedal. In one embodiment, the pedal unit  312  includes a clutch pedal. Each computer  104 ,  106  and  108  may further comprise standard input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a digitizer, or a speech processing means (each not illustrated). 
         [0035]    Each computer  104 ,  106  and  108 &#39;s memory  318  includes a GUI  320  which is used to gather information from a user via the display device  306  and IO unit  304  as described herein. The GUI  320  includes any user interface capable of being displayed on a display device  306  including, but not limited to, a web page, a display panel in an executable program, or any other interface capable of being displayed on a computer screen. The GUI  320  may also be stored in the secondary storage unit  316 . In one embodiment consistent with the present invention, the GUI  320  is displayed using commercially available HTML viewing software such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or any other commercially available HTML viewing software. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic representation of a driving simulation system analyzing a driver&#39;s performance. In step  402 , information related to a driving scenario is gathered by the information gathering unit  112 . The information may include the location, or location type, for a simulation, the attributes tested in the simulation, the type of events to occur in the simulation or any other information related to the driving scenario. In step  404 , a driving scenario is selected from a plurality of driving scenarios based on the information gathered. Each driving scenario presents a user with a virtual driving environment including a series of obstacles or decisions for the user to react to during the simulation. As an illustrative example, a driving scenario may require a user to take the shortest route from one location to another location, avoid dangerous situations while in route to a location, or react to different simulated events. A plurality of driving scenarios are stored in the DSU  102 . In step  406 , the information gathering unit  112  transmits the file to at least one local driving simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  via the network  110 . In step  408 , the local driving simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  receives the files and executes the simulation to a user of the local driving simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122 . 
         [0037]    In step  410 , the local driving simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  gathers information relating to the performance of the user of the local driving simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  during the simulation. The performance of the user may include information gathered from the wheel unit  308 , brake unit  310 , pedal unit  312  and gear shift unit  314 . The performance of the user may also include biometric information of the user during the simulation. Each user performance is correlated to a specific portion of the simulation, and logged in the memory  318  of the computer executing the simulation. In step  412 , after the simulation has completed, the local driving simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  transmits the information gathered from the user during the simulation to the simulation tracking unit  114  in the drive simulation unit  102 . 
         [0038]    In step  414 , the driver analysis unit  116  analyzes the information gathered from multiple users operating the same or similar simulation. The driver analysis unit  116  determines a baseline value for each type of gathered information from each user during the simulation. As an illustrative example, the driver analysis unit  116  may generate a baseline speed of sixty miles per hour for a portion of a simulation based on the speed of multiple users during that portion of the simulation. The driver analysis unit  116  develops baseline values for each type of gathered information for every portion of the simulation for each user. Types of gathered information may include, but is not limited to, speed, acceleration, braking response time, gear positioning or any other response enacted by the user. In step  416 , the driver analysis unit  116  compares the baseline values for the information gathered for each portion of the simulation for each user with the baseline values for that portion to determine if each user deviates from the baseline value. As an illustrative example, the driver analysis unit  116  may determine that a user accelerates to a speed of eighty miles per hour in a portion of the simulation where the baseline is sixty miles an hour. The driver analysis unit  116  may generate an indication that the user deviated from the baseline value during that portion of the simulation. The driver simulation unit  116  compares each user&#39;s values to the baseline values for each portion of the simulation and identifies each area where the user deviated from the baseline during the simulation. 
         [0039]    In step  418 , the simulation tracking unit  114  identifies additional scenarios for each user based on the user&#39;s deviations from baseline values. As an illustrative example, the simulation tracking unit  114  may identify a specific scenario related to acceleration for a user that over accelerates in relation to a baseline acceleration during the simulation. In one embodiment, the simulation tracking unit may generate a customized simulation based on the deviations of each user by meshing together portions of other simulations into a single simulation. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  depicts a schematic representation of a local simulation unit loading and running a simulation. In step  502 , the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  receives a simulation from the drive simulation unit  102 . The simulation may be a file containing a series of commands the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  should execute to perform the simulation. The simulation may also contain instructions on what information to gather form the user during different portions of the simulation or the interval with which information should be gathered from the user during the simulation. In step  504 , the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  loads the simulation into the operating portion of the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122 . In step  506 , the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  executes the simulation based on the received simulation. In step  508 , the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  monitors the user&#39;s performance during the simulation. The local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  may gather information in the form of electrical signals or data from the wheel unit  308 , brake unit  310 , pedal unit  312  or the gear shift unit  314 . The local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  may also gather biometric information for the user including the pulse and breathing rate, eye movement, level of intoxication, level of perspiration or any other biometric information from the user via a camera or external biometric sensors connected to the  10  Unit  304  of the computer  102 ,  104  or  106 . 
         [0041]    In step  510 , the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  correlates the information gathered from the user with a time or distance indicator from the simulation such that the information gathered corresponds to a specific time during the simulation or a specific location presented in the simulation. As an illustrative example, if a user turns a corner at three minutes after the simulation is started, the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  logs the acceleration, wheel position, gear shift position and other information and correlates the data to the images displayed to the user during that portion of the simulation. In step  512 , the information gathered by the local simulation unit  118 ,  120  or  122  is transmitted to the drive simulation unit  102 . 
         [0042]    In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
         [0043]    It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.