Claims:We claim:
1. An automobile door management system (100) comprising:
a door-locking unit (102) configured for:
managing locking and unlocking of at least one door of an automobile (300);
a sensor module (104) configured for:
detecting at least one obstacle in proximity to the at least one door of the automobile (300) when the automobile (300) is stationary and the at least one door of the automobile (300) is locked; and
a controller (106) coupled with the door-locking unit (102) and the sensor module (104), the controller (106) configured for:
instructing the door-locking unit (102) for locking the at least one door of the automobile (300) on detecting that the at least one obstacle is in proximity to the at least one door; and
instructing the door-locking unit (102) for unlocking the at least one door of the automobile (300) when the at least one obstacle is moved away from the at least one door.
2. The automobile door management system (100) of claim 1, wherein the sensor module (104) includes at least one sensor placed in at least one of a rear fender, door, a rear bumper, a rear spoiler, a tail lamp region and a rear door (tailgate) of the automobile (300) and the door-locking unit (102) is an automatic door-locking unit.
3. The automobile door management system (100) of claim 1, wherein the controller (106) is further configured for generating at least one alarm indication for a user of the automobile (300) on detecting the at least one obstacle by the sensor module (104).
4. The automobile door management system (100) of claim 1, wherein the automobile door management system (100) further comprises:
a timer module (108) configured for setting a time period in which the at least one door of the automobile (300) remains unlocked when the automobile (300) is unlocked by the user of the automobile (300).
5. The automobile door management system (100) of claim 4, wherein the at least one door remains unlocked in the set time period even if the obstacle is in proximity to the at least one door of the automobile (300).
6. An automobile (300) comprising:
at least one door;
a door-locking unit (102) configured for:
locking the at least one door when at least one obstacle is in proximity to the at least one door when the automobile (300) is stationary; and
unlocking the at least one door when the at least one obstacle is moved away from the at least one door.
7. The automobile (300) of claim 6, wherein the automobile (300) further comprises a sensor module (104) including at least one sensor configured for detecting a presence of the at least one obstacle in proximity to the at least one door.
8. A method for managing locking and unlocking of at least one door of an automobile (300), the method comprising:
detecting, by a sensor module (104), at least one obstacle in proximity to the at least one door of the automobile (300) when the automobile (300) is stationary and the at least one door of the automobile (300) is locked;
instructing, by a controller (106), a door-locking unit (102) for locking the at least one door of the automobile (300) on detecting that the at least one obstacle is in proximity to the at least one door; and
instructing, by the controller (106), the door-locking unit (102) for unlocking the at least one door of the automobile (300) when the at least one obstacle is moved away from the at least one door.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor module (104) includes at least one sensor placed in a at least one of a rear fender, door, a rear bumper, a rear spoiler, a tail lamp region and a rear door (tailgate) of the automobile (300) and the door-locking unit (102) is an automatic door-locking unit.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
generating, by the controller (106), at least one alarm indication for a user of the automobile (300) on detecting the at least one obstacle by the sensor module (104).
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
setting, by a timer module (108), a time period in which the at least one door of the automobile (300) remains unlocked when the automobile (300) is unlocked by the user of the automobile (300).
12. The method claim 11, wherein the at least one door remains unlocked in the set time period even if the obstacle is in proximity to the at least one door of the automobile (300).
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Embodiments disclosed herein relate to vehicle protection systems, and more particularly to managing locking/unlocking of doors of an automobile/vehicle based on obstacles for preventing collision while opening the door(s) when the vehicle is stationary.

BACKGROUND
[002] A driver and/or occupants of an automobile/vehicle may open door(s) of the vehicle without paying attention to near-by passing objects such as, but not limited to, vehicles, persons, trucks and so on. In such scenario, the objects may hit the open door(s) causing an accident, which leads to the driver and/or occupant’s injury and damage to the vehicle.

OBJECTS
[003] The principal object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for managing locking and unlocking of at least one door of an automobile to prevent collision while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary.
[004] Another object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for detecting at least one obstacle, which is in proximity to the at least one door of the automobile when the automobile is stationary and the at least one door is locked.
[005] Another object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for locking the at least one door on detecting that the at least one obstacle is in proximity to the at least one door.
[006] Another object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for unlocking the at least one door when the at least one obstacle moves away from the at least one door so that a user of the automobile can open the at least one door safely.
[007] Another object of embodiments herein is to disclose methods and systems for setting a time period when the automobile is unlocked by a user/driver of the automobile so that the at least one door remains unlocked even in the presence of the at least one obstacle.
[008] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating at least one embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[009] Embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] FIGs. 1a and 1b depict an automobile door management system of an automobile, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for managing locking/unlocking of at least one door of an automobile while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIGs. 3a and 3b depict an example automobile with the automobile door management system, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 4 depicts an example architecture of an automobile door management system, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is an example flow diagram illustrating locking/unlocking of at least one door of an automobile while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0016] Embodiments herein disclose methods and systems for managing locking/unlocking of at least one door of an automobile to prevent collision while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary.
[0017] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1a through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0018] FIGs. 1a and 1b depict an automobile door management system 100 of an automobile 300, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The automobile/vehicle 300 (as shown in FIGs. 3a and 3b) can be at least one of a manually operated vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, an autonomous vehicle and so on. Examples of the automobile 300 can be, but is not limited to, a car, a bus, a truck, an autonomous car, or any motor vehicle/transportation vehicle having at least one door to enter and exist. The automobile 100 includes the automobile door management system 100 for managing locking/unlocking of doors of the automobile in order to prevent collisions while opening the doors of the automobile when the automobile is stationary.
[0019] The automobile system 100 can be a collision prevention and automobile protection system. As illustrated in FIG. 1a, the automobile door management system 100 includes a door-locking unit 102, a sensor module 104, a controller 106, a timing module 108 and memory 110. In an embodiment, the door-locking unit 102 can act as the controller 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1b and performs intended functions of the controller 106. The sensor module 104 can be communicatively coupled to the controller 106 (the door-locking unit 102) using a communication network. Examples of the communication network can be, but is not limited to, the Internet, a wired network (a Local Area Network (LAN), a Controller Area Network (CAN) network, a bus network, Ethernet and so on), a wireless network (a Wi-Fi network, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth, Zigbee and so on) and so on. The controller 106 can be communicatively coupled to the door-locking unit 102 and the timing module 108 through the communication network. Further, the controller 106/the door-locking unit 102 can be communicatively coupled to the memory 110 through the communication network.
[0020] The door-locking unit 102 can be coupled to the doors of the automobile 300. The door-locking unit 102 can be configured for managing locking of the doors of the automobile 300. The door-locking unit 102 can also be configured for managing unlocking of the doors of the automobile 300 for opening. The door-locking unit 102 referred herein can be at least one of a mechanical locking unit, an automatic/centralized locking unit and so on. If the doors are coupled with the mechanical locking unit, then, a user of the automobile 300 needs to operate the door-locking unit 102 manually to open/close the doors of the automobile 300. The user can be at least one of a driver, occupants of the automobile and so on. Embodiments herein use the terms such as “users”, “driver”, “occupants”, “passengers” and so on interchangeably to refer to a person driving the automobile 300 or to a person who is present in the automobile 300. If the doors are coupled with the automatic door-locking unit, then the doors may be installed with latching mechanism, which can contain both a latch and electric motor (actuator) that controls the locking/unlocking of the doors while closing/opening the doors. In an embodiment, the door-locking unit 102 can include one or more processors, a microcontroller, a memory, a communication interface, Input/Output (I/O) ports and so on for performing intended functions of the controller 106.
[0021] The sensor module 104 can be configured to detect obstacle(s) present in proximity to the door(s) of the automobile 300, when the automobile 300 is stationary and the door(s) is locked. The obstacles can be moving or non-moving objects. Examples of the obstacles can be, but not limited to, automobiles/vehicles, persons, animals, and so on. The sensor module 104 includes one or more sensors to detect the obstacle(s). Examples of the sensors can be, but is not limited to, an obstacle, an ultra sonic sensor, a radar sensor, a laser-scanner sensor, a sonar sensor, a visible spectrum camera, an infrared spectrum camera and so on. It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein may use any sensors without otherwise deterring the intended function of detecting the obstacles as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings. The parameters involved in detection of the obstacle include but not limited to the speed of the obstacle, vehicle Condition (stationary or moving) and the distance between the vehicle and obstacle.
[0022] The sensors can be placed in a rear fender of the automobile 300 on both left handed and right handed side. In another embodiment, the sensors can be provided on but not limited to the door(s), a rear bumper, a rear spoiler, a tail lamp region, a rear door (tailgate) and so on. The sensors can be activated by supplying Direct Current (DC) power. An amount of the DC power supplied for the sensors can be varied based on selection of the sensors. In an example herein, the sensors can be activated by 12V or 5V DC power supply.
[0023] In an embodiment, the sensor(s) can detect the obstacle(s) present at a certain distance (a sensing area) from the door(s) of the automobile 300 by considering a door-opening angle. The sensing area can depend on a type of sensor used by the sensor module 104. In an example herein, the sensor(s) can detect the obstacle(s) at a distance of 20-30 meter with respect to the door-opening angle when the door is locked and the automobile 300 is stationary.
[0024] The controller 106 can be placed in the automobile 300 at any suitable positions. The controller 106 can include one or more processors, a microcontroller, a memory, a communication interface, Input/Output (I/O) ports and so on. In an embodiment, the controller 106 can be at least one of dedicated control unit and a generalized electronic control unit for operating the automobile 300. The controller 106 can be configured to manage the locking/unlocking of the doors of the automobile while opening the door(s) of the automobile 300 when it is stationary. In an embodiment, the controller 106 can manage the locking/unlocking of the doors based on the detection of obstacles by the sensors of the sensor module 104. In an embodiment, the controller 106 can be the door-locking unit 104 as illustrated in FIG. 1b.
[0025] The controller 106 activates the sensors of the sensor module 104 when the automobile 300 stops moving (stationary/parked). The controller 106 determines if the sensors of the sensor module 104 detect any obstacles near (in proximity) to the doors of the automobile 300. In an embodiment, if the sensors of the sensor module 104 detect the obstacle(s) near to the door(s) of the automobile 300 and the door-locking unit 102 is the automatic door-locking unit, then the controller 106 instructs the door-locking unit 102 (by sending control signals to the door-locking unit 102) to lock the doors of the automobile 300. Thus, preventing the collisions from opening the door(s) of the automobile 300 in presence of the obstacle(s). Further, the controller 106 generates a warning/alarm indication to the user indicating the presence of obstacle(s) near to the door(s). The alarm indication can be at least one of an audio indication, a video indication, an audio video indication, a vibratory indication or any other field of communication to the user. The controller 106 continuously communicates with the sensors of the sensor module 104 and determines that the detected obstacle(s) is moved away from the door(s) of the automobile and there are no any other obstacles, then the controller 106 instructs the door-locking unit 106 (the automatic door-locking unit) to unlock the doors of the automobile 300. Then the controller 106 generates the alarm indication for the user indicating that the door(s) are safe to open. Thus, the user can open any of the doors safely.
[0026] In an embodiment, if the sensors of the sensor module 104 detect the obstacle(s) near to the door(s) of the automobile 300 and the door-locking unit is the manual door-locking unit, the controller 106 then generates the warning/alarm indication for the user. The warning indicates the presence of the obstacles near the door(s). Thus, the user may be prevented from opening the door in presence of the obstacles. When the obstacle is moved, the controller 106 generates the alarm indication for the user in order to indicate that the door(s) are safe to open.
[0027] In an embodiment, the controller 106 can activate the timing module 108 when the automobile 300 is unlocked by the user. The controller 106 does not activate the timing module 106 during a reverse gear operation.
[0028] The timing module 108 can be placed along with the sensors in the automobile 300. In an embodiment, the timing module 108 can be configured to control a required timing operation during the unlocking of the automobile 300 by the user. The timing module 108 can set a time-period when the automobile 300 is unlocked by the user so that the door(s) may remain open in the time period even in the presence of the obstacle(s). In an example herein, the timing module 108 can set 1 minute of time-period when the automobile 300 is unlocked by the user, so that the door(s) may remain open for the 1 minute even in the presence of the obstacle(s) near to the door(s) of the automobile 300.
[0029] The memory 110 can store data of the sensors, information about the door-opening angle, information about the obstacles, the time period set by the timing module 106 and so on. The memory 110 may include one or more computer-readable storage media. The memory 110 may include non-volatile storage elements. Examples of such non-volatile storage elements may include magnetic hard discs, optical discs, floppy discs, flash memories, or forms of electrically programmable memories (EPROM) or electrically erasable and programmable (EEPROM) memories. In addition, the memory 110 may, in some examples, be considered a non-transitory storage medium. The term “non-transitory” may indicate that the storage medium is not embodied in a carrier wave or a propagated signal. However, the term “non-transitory” should not be interpreted to mean that the memory 110 is non-movable. In some examples, the memory 110 can be configured to store larger amounts of information than the memory. In certain examples, a non-transitory storage medium may store data that can, over time, change (e.g., in Random Access Memory (RAM) or cache).
[0030] FIG. 1 shows exemplary units of the automobile door management system 100, but it is to be understood that other embodiments are not limited thereon. In other embodiments, the automobile door management system 100 may include less or more number of units. Further, the labels or names of the units are used only for illustrative purpose and does not limit the scope of the embodiments herein. One or more units can be combined together to perform same or substantially similar function in the automobile door management system 100.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram 200 illustrating a method for managing locking/unlocking of the doors of the automobile 300 while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
[0032] At step 202, the method includes detecting, by the sensor module 104, the at least one obstacle in proximity to the door(s) of the automobile 300 when the automobile 300 is stationary and the at least one door of the automobile 300 is locked. The sensor module 104 includes the one or more sensors placed in a rear fender of the automobile 300 on both the left hand and right hand sides. The sensors can detect the obstacle present at the certain distance from the door-opening angle of the door(s) of the automobile 300.
[0033] At step 204, the method includes instructing, by the controller 106, the door-locking unit 104 for locking the doors of the automobile 300 on detecting that the at least one obstacle is in proximity to the door(s) of the automobile 300.
[0034] At step 206, the method includes, instructing, by the controller 106, the door-locking unit 104 for unlocking the at least one door of the automobile 300 when the at least one obstacle is moved away from the at least one door and there are no other obstacles. Thus, the user may open the door(s) without any collisions.
[0035] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the method and the flow diagram 200 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0036] FIGs. 3a and 3b depict an example automobile 300 with the automobile door management system 100, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Embodiments herein further explained considering a car 300 including the automatic locking unit 102 as the example automobile 300, but it may be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art that any other automobile can be considered. In an example as illustrated in FIGs. 3a and 3b, the car has four doors and two sensors (of the sensor module 104), wherein the sensors are placed in a rear fender of the car 300 on both the left hand and right hand sides. Consider an example scenario, wherein, the car 300 stops moving and the four doors are locked. Once the car stopped moving, the controller 104 checks if the two sensors detect any obstacles near the doors of the car. In an example herein, consider that the obstacle is detected at a distance of 20-30 meter from the door-opening angle of the first left hand side door of the car by the two sensors. Then, the controller 104 instructs the automatic door-locking unit 102 to lock the doors of the car 300. The controller 104 further generates the warning to the user indicating the presence of the obstacle. Once the obstacle is moved and there are no other obstacles, the controller 104 instructs the automatic door-locking unit 104 to unlock the doors and generates the alarm indication to the user by indicating that the user can open the doors. Thus, the user may open any of the doors safely.
[0037] FIG. 4 depicts an example architecture of an automobile door management system 100, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an example herein, consider that the car 300 has four doors. The car includes the automobile door management system 100. The automobile door management system 100 can include the sensor module 104 including the sensors, the timing module 108, the automatic door-locking unit 102/the controller 106. In an example, the sensor module 104 includes two ultra sonic sensors that are placed in the rear fender of the car 300. The two ultra sonic sensors can be coupled with the controller 106/the door-locking unit 102. In an example, the two ultra sonic sensors are powered up using 5V DC when the car is stationary and the doors of the car are locked. The four doors can be coupled with the device-locking unit 102/the controller 106. In an embodiment, the device-locking unit 102 can be coupled with the controller 106. In an embodiment, the door-locking unit 102 can act as the controller 106.
[0038] Further, the controller 106 instructs the door-locking unit 102 to lock the four doors of the car if the at least one ultra sonic sensor detects the obstacle(s) near to the at least one door of the car 300. When the obstacle is moved and there are no other obstacles, the controller 106 instructs the door-locking unit 102 to unlock the doors of the car 300 so that the user can open at least one door of the car safely.
[0039] FIG. 5 is an example flow diagram illustrating locking/unlocking of the at least one door of the automobile 300 while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. Embodiments herein enable the automobile door management system 100 (a collision prevention and protection system) of the car 300 to prevent collision while opening the door(s) of the car by the user when the car is parked.
[0040] In an example herein, a car is considered as the automobile 300. The car includes the automobile door management system 100. The automobile door management system 100 can include the sensor module 104 including the sensors, the timing module 108, the automatic door-locking unit 102. In an example herein, consider that the automatic door-locking unit 102 can act as the controller 106. Further, the sensor module 104 (including the sensors) and the timing module 108 can be placed in series with the automatic door-locking unit 104. In an example herein, components of the automobile door management system 100 can be powered up with 6V by using a converter (12V-6V). When the car is stopped, the automatic door-locking unit 104 checks if the sensor module 104 detects any obstacles near to the at least one door of the car 300. If the sensor module 104 detects the obstacle near to the at least one door of the car 300, the automatic door-locking unit 104 locks all the doors of the car 300. When the obstacle is moved and there are no other obstacles, then the automatic door-locking unit 104 unlocks the doors of the car for opening the at least one door.
[0041] If the sensor module 104 does not detect the obstacles, the automatic door-locking unit 104 unlocks all the doors of the car and generates the alarm indication to the user indicating that all the doors of the car 300 are safe to open.
[0042] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the elements. The elements shown in FIGs. 1a and 1b can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.
[0043] The embodiments disclosed herein describe methods and systems for managing locking and unlocking of at least one door of an automobile to prevent collision while opening the at least one door when the automobile is stationary. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer readable means having a message therein, such computer readable storage means contain program code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a controller/automatic door-locking unit or any suitable programmable device. The method is implemented in a preferred embodiment through or together with a software program written in e.g. Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL) another programming language, or implemented by one or more VHDL or several software modules being executed on at least one hardware device. The hardware device can be any kind of portable device that can be programmed. The device may also include means which could be e.g. hardware means like e.g. an ASIC, or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g. an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software modules located therein. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. Alternatively, the invention may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g. using a plurality of CPUs.
[0044] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.