Hierarchical messaging system

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to prioritizing notifications for a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode. As an example, a set of notifications based on one or more messages received or transmitted by a planning system of the vehicle may be generated. Each notification of the set of notifications is assigned a priority ranking. The set of notifications may be stored in a cache and the one or more processors may determine a first notification for display based on the priority rankings of the set of notifications and the first notification may be displayed on a display of the vehicle to a passenger of the vehicle.

1 . A method of processing notifications for a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode, the method comprising:
 generating, by one or more processors, a set of notifications, wherein one or more notifications in the set of notifications incudes a ranking component and an expiration time component;   storing, by the one or more processors, the set of notifications in a cache within sa memory;   selecting, by the one or more processors, one notification of the one or more notifications for display based on a ranking indicated by the ranking component;   displaying, by the one or more processors on a display of the vehicle, the selected one notification to a passenger of the vehicle; and   removing from the cache, by the one or more processors, any of the one or more notifications for which the expiration time component indicates that an expiration time has been reached.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expiration time component indicates how long a notification may remain in the cache before it is removed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the notification is removed from the cache without ever being displayed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the set of notifications is based on a plurality of different events associated with the vehicle, the method further comprising:
 determining, by the one or more processors, that one event of the events associated with the vehicle has occurred,   wherein selecting the one notification is further based on the determination that the one event has occurred.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the expiration time is indefinite when the one event is associated with a need to close an open door of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the expiration time is indefinite when the one event is associated with a detection of a mechanical issue associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the selected one notification further includes a visual component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the visual component includes text or images associated with an object or individual which performed the one event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the visual component includes text or images for display on the display of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected one notification further includes a display time component that indicates a length of time the selected one notification is displayed. 
     
     
         11 . A system for processing notifications for a vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode, the system comprising:
 a cache within a memory; and   one or more processors configured to:
 generate a set of notifications, wherein one or more notifications in the set of notifications incudes a ranking component and an expiration time component; 
 store the set of notifications in the cache; 
 select one notification of the one or more notifications for display based on a ranking indicated by the ranking component; 
 display, on a display of the vehicle, the selected one notification to a passenger of the vehicle; and 
 remove from the cache any of the one or more notifications for which the expiration time component indicates that an expiration time has been reached. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the expiration time component indicates how long a notification may remain in the cache before it is removed. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the notification is removed from the cache without ever being displayed. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the set of notifications is generated based on a plurality of different events associated with the vehicle, the one or more processors are further configured to determine that one event of the events associated with the vehicle has occurred, and the selection of the one notification is further based on the determination that the one event has occurred. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the expiration time is indefinite when the one event is associated with a need to close an open door of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the expiration time is indefinite when the one event is associated with a detection of a mechanical issue associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the selected one notification further includes a visual component. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the visual component includes text or images associated with an object or individual which performed the one event. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the visual component includes text or images for display on the display of the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the selected one notification further includes a display time component that indicates a length of time the selected one notification is displayed.