Cloud computed data service for automated reporting of vehicle trip data

• US 10,242,408 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Left Lane Network, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Left Lane Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Fleck, David, Harris, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y
• Application Number:
  US15/799,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20180053258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 701 18
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method may include receiving, at a server, onboard diagnostic data associated with an operational state of a vehicle of a user; calculating vehicle-related trip expense data based on the vehicle trip distance data included in the onboard diagnostic data; generating a message including the vehicle-related trip expense data and wirelessly transmitting the message to a mobile device having an interface to present the vehicle-related trip expense data. The onboard diagnostic data may include vehicle trip distance data for a vehicle trip. The vehicle-related trip expense data may be based on a first cost rate associated with a first segment of the vehicle trip and a second rate associated with a second segment of the vehicle trip, and the calculating may be performed by a processor of the server. The onboard diagnostic data may be compatible with the OBD-II standard.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, onboard diagnostic data associated with an operational state of a vehicle of a user, the onboard diagnostic data including vehicle trip distance data for a vehicle trip;

calculating vehicle-related trip expense data based on the vehicle trip distance data included in the onboard diagnostic data, the vehicle-related trip expense data being based on a first cost rate associated with a first segment of the vehicle trip and a second rate associated with a second segment of the vehicle trip, the calculating performed by a processor of the server;

generating a message that includes the vehicle-related trip expense data; and

wirelessly transmitting the message to a mobile device having an interface to present the vehicle-related trip expense data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is compatible with the OBD-II standard.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the onboard diagnostic data, including the vehicle trip distance data, to the server via a network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is received by an OBD-compatible device via an onboard diagnostics (OBD) connector of the vehicle, and transmitted by the OBD compatible device to the server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is received by an OBD compatible device via an OBD connector of the vehicle, and is transmitted to the mobile device, and is transmitted by the mobile device to the server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is received by a vehicle head unit via a vehicle head unit connector of the vehicle, and is transmitted by the vehicle head unit to the server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes information associated with the user and from an external service operating the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the message is enabled for a first set of data of the onboard diagnostic data at an initiation event, and for a second set of data, other than the first set of data, upon installing a device to the vehicle, the device being an OBD-II compatible device including an OBD-II compatible connector.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-related trip expense data is calculated for employer reimbursement.

10. The method of claim 1, including calculating tax deduction data based on tax rules of a vehicle location associated with the vehicle trip distance data, the method further including generating the message to include the tax deduction data, and the interface further to present the tax deduction data.

11. A computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to;

receive, at a server, onboard diagnostic data associated with an operational state of a vehicle of a user, the onboard diagnostic data including vehicle trip distance data for a vehicle trip;

calculate vehicle-related trip expense data based on the vehicle trip distance data included in the onboard diagnostic data, the vehicle-related trip expense data being based on a first cost rate associated with a first segment of the vehicle trip and a second rate associated with a second segment of the vehicle trip, the calculating performed by a processor of the server;

generate a message that includes the vehicle-related trip expense data; and

wirelessly transmit the message to a mobile device having an interface to present the vehicle-related trip expense data.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is compatible with the OBD-II standard.

13. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to wirelessly transmit the onboard diagnostic data, including the vehicle trip distance data, to the server via a network.

14. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is received by an OBD-compatible device via an onboard diagnostics (OBD) connector of the vehicle, and transmitted by the OBD-compatible device to the server.

15. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is received by an OBD-II compatible device via an OBD connector of the vehicle, and is transmitted to the mobile device, and is transmitted by the mobile device to the server.

16. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the onboard diagnostic data is received by a vehicle head unit via a vehicle head unit connector of the vehicle, and is transmitted by the vehicle head unit to the server.

17. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the message includes information associated with the user and from an external service operating the server.

18. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmitting of the message is enabled for a first set of data of the onboard diagnostic data at an initiation event, and for a second set of data, other than the first set of data, upon installing a device to the vehicle, the device being an OBD-II compatible device including an OBD-II compatible connector.

19. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to calculate tax tax deduction data based on tax rules of a vehicle location associated with the vehicle trip distance data, and to generate the message to include the tax deduction data, and the interface further to present the tax deduction data.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive, at a server, onboard diagnostic data associated with an operational state of a vehicle of a user, the onboard diagnostic data including vehicle trip distance data for a vehicle trip;

calculate vehicle-related trip expense data based on the vehicle trip distance data included in the onboard diagnostic data, the vehicle-related trip expense data being based on a first cost rate associated with a first segment of the vehicle trip and a second rate associated with a second segment of the vehicle trip, the calculating performed by a processor of the server;

generate a message that includes the vehicle-related trip expense data; and

wirelessly transmit the message to a mobile device having an interface to present the vehicle-related trip expense data.