Vehicle sensing and access control for on-demand services

• US 10,237,690 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Thakur, Siddharth, Dibb, Gregory D., Storti, GianLuca, Nakamura, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Nathan A
• Application Number:
  US15/636,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20190007794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for providing on-demand services to vehicles are described. The disclosed technology determines information associated with the vehicle. The information includes a location of the vehicle. A request is generated for the on-demand service using the information and identification of the vehicle is confirmed using a wireless signal of the vehicle. Access is provided to the vehicle to enable performance of the on-demand service and the vehicle is secured after completion of the on-demand service.

Claims

1. A method for providing an on-demand service to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving data from a telematic control unit of the vehicle;

determining information associated with the vehicle using the received data, the information including a location of the vehicle;

generating a request for a plurality of on-demand services using the information, the plurality of on-demand services including fuel delivery, package delivery, vehicle cleaning, and vehicle maintenance;

confirming identification of the vehicle using a wireless signal of the vehicle;

providing access to the vehicle to enable performance of at least one of the plurality of on-demand services; and

securing the vehicle after completion of the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a notification after completion of the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services to a user of the vehicle, a service provider performing the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services, or a third-party monitoring performance of the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data from a telematic control unit of the vehicle comprises:

receiving data from the vehicle via a telematic control unit that is coupled to at least one sub-system of the vehicle through a controller area network (CAN) bus, the at least one sub-system of the vehicle including at least one sensor in communication with the CAN bus.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data is continuously detected by the telematic control unit in communication with a plurality of sensors of a plurality of sub-systems of the vehicle, the plurality of sensors including any of a fuel level sensor and a tire pressure sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein confirming identification of the vehicle using the wireless signal further comprises:

determining an updated location of the vehicle using a strength of the wireless signal;

communicating the updated location to a service provider performing the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services; and

in response to detecting that the service provider is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle, instructing the vehicle to transmit a message to the service provider.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message includes any of flashing lights, horn signals, turn signals, token exchanges, text communications, and graphical images.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein providing access to the vehicle and securing the vehicle are enabled using the CAN bus.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to the vehicle comprises:

providing access to a trunk of the vehicle by remotely unlocking the trunk, the trunk being remotely secured after completion of the package delivery.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information further includes any of a tire pressure, a fuel level, an odometer reading, a check engine notification, a service reminder notification, a cleanliness rating, and service history information of the vehicle.

10. A system for providing an on-demand service to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions executed by the processor to;

receive data from a telematic control unit of the vehicle;

determine information associated with the vehicle using the received data, the information including a location of the vehicle;

generate a request for a plurality of on-demand services using the information, the plurality of on-demand services including fuel delivery, package delivery, vehicle cleaning, and vehicle maintenance;

confirm identification of the vehicle using a wireless signal of the vehicle;

provide access to the vehicle to enable performance of at least one of the plurality of on-demand services; and

secure the vehicle after completion of the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services.

11. The system of claim 10, further including instructions executed by the processor to:

transmit a notification after completion of the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services to a user of the vehicle, a service provider performing the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services, or a third-party monitoring performance of the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein to receive data from a telematic control unit of the vehicle comprises to:

receive data from the vehicle via a telematic control unit that is coupled to at least one sub-system of the vehicle through a controller area network (CAN) bus, the at least one sub-system of the vehicle including at least one sensor in communication with the CAN bus.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data is continuously detected by the telematic control unit in communication with a plurality of sensors of a plurality of sub-systems of the vehicle, the plurality of sensors including any of a fuel level sensor and a tire pressure sensor.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein to confirm identification of the vehicle using the wireless signal further comprises to:

determine an updated location of the vehicle using a strength of the wireless signal;

communicate the updated location to a service provider performing the at least one of the plurality of on-demand services; and

in response to detecting that the service provider is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle, instruct the vehicle to transmit a message to the service provider.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the message includes any of flashing lights, horn signals, turn signals, token exchanges, text communications, and graphical images.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein to provide access to the vehicle and to secure the vehicle are enabled using the CAN bus.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein to provide access to the vehicle further comprises to:

provide access to a trunk of the vehicle by remotely unlocking the trunk, the trunk being remotely secured after completion of the package delivery.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the information further includes any of a tire pressure, a fuel level, an odometer reading, a check engine notification, a service reminder notification, and service history information of the vehicle.