US 12,437,015 B1
Object identification and search range adjustment method and apparatus
Ryo Igarashi, Chofu (JP)
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Aichi-Ken (JP)
Filed by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Aichi-ken (JP)
Filed on Jun. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/748,026.
Int. Cl. G06F 16/9537 (2019.01); G06F 16/29 (2019.01); G06F 16/9538 (2019.01)
CPC G06F 16/9537 (2019.01) [G06F 16/29 (2019.01); G06F 16/9538 (2019.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
processing an inquiry to identify an object outside a vehicle, the inquiry being made by an occupant of the vehicle;
determining a direction of occupant focus at a time of receiving the inquiry;
detecting a quantity of lanes of a road upon which the vehicle is travelling;
setting one or more search areas extending from the vehicle in response to the inquiry and based on a determined quantity of lanes between the vehicle and a side of the road, wherein the side of the road is ahead in the direction of occupant focus;
causing one or more geographical fences corresponding to the one or more search areas to be set with respect to the vehicle on a geographical map in response to the inquiry;
searching map data associated with the geographical map to identify a candidate object of interest within the one or more geographical fences;
searching a database for information about the candidate object of interest within the one or more geographical fences; and
generating an output in response to the inquiry comprising the information about the candidate object.