Patent Application
20210331675
The present invention generally relates to a method of and a system for transmitting a basic safety message from a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of and a system for transmitting a basic safety message from a vehicle in which the basic safety message includes at least one of a new width and length of the vehicle that is different from the actual width and length of the vehicle.
Vehicles are equipped with vehicle-to-anything (V2X) communication to provide low-latency communication between vehicles. V2X communication allows vehicles to wirelessly send and receive a basic safety message. The basic safety message is a packet of data that includes information about the vehicle position, heading, speed, and other information relating to the vehicles state and path history broadcast from a transmitting vehicle. The transmitted information includes the actual width and the actual length of the transmitting vehicle. The received vehicle length and width from the transmitting vehicle can be used to identify the specific make and model of the transmitting vehicle such that the receiving vehicle can identify and track the transmitting vehicle. A need exists to protect the privacy of the vehicle occupants.
One object of the disclosure is to provide a method of and a system for transmitting a basic safety message in which at least one of the actual length and the actual width of the vehicle is changed to obfuscate the actual length and/or the actual width of the vehicle, thereby preventing the vehicle from being identified by the transmitted information and protecting the privacy of the vehicle occupants.
In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method of transmitting a vehicle basic safety message. A basic safety message is received from each of a plurality of remote vehicles within a predetermined distance of a host vehicle. The basic safety message includes a width and a length of the remote vehicle. At least one of a new width and a new length of the host vehicle is determined. The new width and the new length of the host vehicle are different from an actual width and an actual length of the host vehicle. A new basic safety message is transmitted by the host vehicle including the at least one of the new width and the new length of the host vehicle.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a system for transmitting a vehicle basic safety message. The system includes a wireless communication system and an electronic controller. The wireless communication system is configured to receive a remote vehicle basic safety message from each of a plurality of remote vehicles within a predetermined distance of a host vehicle. The remote vehicle basic safety message includes a width and a length of the remote vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to determine at least one of a new width and a new length of the host vehicle. The new width and the new length of the host vehicle are different from an actual width and an actual length of the host vehicle. The wireless communication system is further configured to transmit a host vehicle basic safety message including the at least one of the new width and the new length of the host vehicle.
Also other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed method of and system for transmitting a basic safety message from a vehicle will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the method of and system for transmitting a basic safety message from a vehicle.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
The wireless communication system 14 is a communication transceiver for performing a wireless communication with an external wireless communication device, such as the remote vehicles 18, as is understood in the art. The wireless communication system 14 communicates through any suitable standard, such as IEEE 802.11p or cellular, for communication over a wireless network.
The controller 16 is preferably an electronic controller and includes a microcomputer with a control program to control components of the basic safety message transmitting system 12 as discussed below. The controller 16 can also include other conventional components such as an input interface circuit, an output interface circuit, and storage device(s) 20, such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) device and a RAM (Random Access Memory) device. The microcomputer of the controller 16 is at least programmed to control the basic safety message transmitting system 12 in accordance with the flowchart of
As shown in
As shown in
After the process starts (step S10), the host vehicle 10 (
The process then moves to step S14 in which the number of vehicles of the remote vehicles 18 and 24 that have both a width and a length within a predetermined range of the actual width and the actual length of the host vehicle 10 is determined from the received basic safety messages from the transmitting remote vehicles 18 and 24. The predetermined range can be any suitable range, such as, but not limited to, fifteen percent. The predetermined range is preferably ten percent. The predetermined range can also be a dimensional size difference, such as a predetermined length, such as 20 cm. Alternatively, the predetermined lengths for the predetermined ranges can be a different amount for the length and the width. The controller 16 determines the number of remote vehicles 18 and 24 within the predetermined distance that have a length RL and a width RW within the predetermined range of the actual length L and the actual width W of the host vehicle 10. The predetermined range captures lengths and widths greater than and less than the actual length L and width W of the host vehicle 10. In other words, the predetermined range is ±the predetermined percentage of the actual length L and width W of the host vehicle 10. The basic safety message is frequently broadcast (such as ten times per second), such that the controller 16 counts each unique remote vehicle 18 and 24 one time while the remote vehicle 18 and 24 remains within the predetermined range to avoid an erroneous count.
As shown in
As shown in
In step S16, a determination is made whether a predetermined time period has elapsed such that the security certificate included with the basic safety message is to be changed. The security certificate is changed after the predetermined time period, such as five minutes, has elapsed. When the time period has elapsed and the security certificate is to be changed, the process moves to step S18. When the time period has not yet elapsed, the process returns to the start (step S10) and steps S12 and S14 are repeated until the time period to change the security certificate has elapsed.
When a determination is made that the security certificate needs to be changed in step S16, the process moves to step S18 in which a determination is made regarding how many remote vehicles 18 were determined to be within the predetermined distance and to have vehicle dimensions within the predetermined range of the actual dimensions of the host vehicle 10. The total count is indicative of the density of similarly sized remote vehicles within the predetermined distance of the host vehicle 10. When the number determined in step S18 is greater than a predetermined number (i.e., a high density), the process moves to step S20. When the number determined in step S18 is equal to or fewer than the predetermined number (i.e., a low density), the process moves to step S22. The predetermined number in step S18 can be any suitable number, such as three.
In step S20, the number of remote vehicles 18 that have identical dimensions (i.e., length and width) as the host vehicle 10 is determined from the number of remote vehicles 18 determined in step S18. When the number determined in step S20 is greater than a predetermined number (i.e., a high density of identical vehicles), the process moves to step S26. When the number determined in step S20 is equal to or fewer than the predetermined number (i.e., a low density of identical vehicles), the process moves to step S24. The predetermined number in step S20 can be any suitable number, such as three.
In steps S22, S24 and S26, a new length and/or a new width of the host vehicle 10 is determined based on the number of remote vehicles 18 determined in steps S18 and S20. The at least one of the new width and the new length of the host vehicle 10 is based on the received basic safety messages from the remote vehicles 18. The new length and/or new width is stored in the storage device 20 and transmitted with the basic safety message broadcast by the host vehicle 10. The new length and/or the new width is transmitted until the next security certificate change is determined in step S16, and another new length and/or new width is determined and is transmitted with the basic safety message. The new length and/or width transmitted with the basic safety message prevents identification and tracking of the host vehicle 10, thereby protecting the privacy of the vehicle occupants of the host vehicle 10.
In step S22, a new length and/or new width is determined based on the number of remote vehicles 18 determined in step S18. The new length and/or new width is randomly generated to not exceed a predetermined range of the dimensions of the host vehicle 10. For example, when the predetermined range is ten percent, the new length and/or new width can be any value greater than zero and less than or equal to ten. The new length and/or the new width is then calculated by multiplying the actual length and/or the actual width by the predetermined range, such as ten percent, to determine the new length and/or the new width of the host vehicle 10 to be transmitted with the basic safety message.
Alternatively, in step S22, the new length and/or the new width can be any random number up to a predetermined value that is added to the actual length and/or actual width of the host vehicle 10. For example, the predetermined value can be up to and including twenty centimeters. A random value of ten can be determined by the controller 16, and ten centimeters is added to the actual length and/or actual width of the host vehicle 10 for the new length and/or new width of the host vehicle to be transmitted with the basic safety message.
In step S24, a new length and/or new width is calculated based on the number of remote vehicles 18 determined in step S20. The calculated new length and/or new width is the average of the length and/or width, respectively, of the number of remote vehicles 18 determined in step S20. The calculated new length and/or new width of the host vehicle is transmitted with the basic safety message.
In step S26, a new length and a new width are determined based on the number of remote vehicles 18 determined in step S20. The new length and the new width are selected from lengths and widths of vehicles stored in the storage device 20. The stored lengths and widths correspond to actual lengths and actual widths of vehicles that are a different make and model than the host vehicle 10. In step S26, both the actual length and the actual width of the host vehicle 10 are changed to the length and width of a vehicle stored in the storage device 20 that is different from the make and model of the host vehicle 10. Alternatively, the actual length and the actual width of the host vehicle 10 can be changed to the length and width of one of the remote vehicles 18. The new length and the new width are different from and preferably larger than the actual length and the actual width of the host vehicle 10. The new length and the new width of the host vehicle 10 are transmitted with the basic safety message. Alternatively, only one of the actual width and the actual length of the host vehicle 10 is changed in step S26.
After a new length and/or new width is determined in steps S22 and S24, the process moves to step S28 to determine whether the actual length L and/or the actual width W are to be updated with the new length and/or new width determined it steps S22 and S24. The process moves to step S30 when only the actual width W of the host vehicle is being changed. The process moves to step S32 when only the actual length of the host vehicle 10 is being changed. The process moves to step S34 when both the actual length L and the actual width W are being changed.
The determination in step S28 regarding whether to change the width (step S30), change the length (step S32), or change both the width and the length (step S34) can be based on any suitable algorithm. For example, a random number generator that generates either the number one, two or three can be used. When the random number generator returns the number one, the process moves to step S30. When the random number generator returns the number two, the process moves to step S32. When the random number generator returns the number three, the process moves to step S34.
As shown in step S30, the actual width W is changed to the new width NW, and the actual length L is not changed. The vehicle dimensions transmitted with the basic safety message until the next security certificate change are the new width NW and the actual length L. This change of a dimension of the host vehicle 10 prevents the host vehicle 10 from being identified and the protects the privacy of the vehicle occupants of the host vehicle 10.
As shown in step S32, the actual length L is changed to the new length NL, and the actual width W is not changed. The vehicle dimensions transmitted with the basic safety message until the next certificate change are the actual width W and the new length NL. This change of a dimension of the host vehicle 10 prevents the host vehicle 10 from being identified and the protects the privacy of the vehicle occupants of the host vehicle 10.
As shown in step S34, the actual length is changed to the new length NL and the actual width W is changed to the new width NW. The vehicle dimensions transmitted with the basic safety message until the next security certificate change are the new width NW and the new length NL. This change of dimensions of the host vehicle 10 prevents the host vehicle 10 from being identified and the protects the privacy of the vehicle occupants of the host vehicle 10.
As shown in
Following steps S26, S30, S32 and S34, the process moves to step S36 in which the actual length and/or the actual width of the host vehicle 10 is changed to the new length and/or the new width to be included with the transmitted basic safety message until the next security certificate change (step S16). The new length NL and/or the new width NW is stored in the storage device 20. The process returns to the start S10 of the process, and repeats steps S12 and S14 until the next security certificate change is required in step S16. When a security certificate change is required in step S16, a new length and/or a new width is determined in accordance with steps S18-S36. The basic safety message transmitting system 12 in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention frequently changes the dimensions of the host vehicle 10 during operation of the host vehicle 10 to protect the privacy of the vehicle occupants of the host vehicle 10.
When the actual length and/or the actual width of the host vehicle 10 is changed in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the new length and/or the new width are preferably larger than the actual length and/or actual width, respectively. The new width NW (
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the method of and system for transmitting a basic safety message from a vehicle. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the method of and system for transmitting a basic safety message from a vehicle.
The term “detect” as used herein to describe an operation or function carried out by a component, a section, a device or the like includes a component, a section, a device or the like that does not require physical detection, but rather includes determining, measuring, modeling, predicting or computing or the like to carry out the operation or function.
The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function.
The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
